Japan, Australia, UK condemn CCG harassment of PH vessels

JAPAN, Australia and the United Kingdom joined other countries in condemning the harassment of Philippine vessels by China Coast Guard (CCG) which endangered Filipinos on a resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

«Japan strongly opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion,» Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

The envoy was alarmed by the collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels as a result of the CCG's dangerous maneuvers to block the regular resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

Koshikawa said Japan stands by the Philippines' position and upholds the «maritime order based on Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and 2016 Arbitral Award.

Australian Ambassador to Manila Hae Kyong Yu PSM also wrote on X that Canberra „is concerned by China's dangerous maneuvers that damaged Philippine vessels and disrupted a Philippine resupply mission in the Philippine EEZ.“

»The South China Sea is a vital international waterway for us all. We again call for peace, stability and respect for Unclos," Yu said.

The Ambassador of UK to Manila Laure Beaufils said London is «very concerned by reports of unsafe conduct towards Philippines vessels on their latest resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal.»

The UK, she said, joins the Philippines in calling for adherence to Unclos and the 2016 arbitral award. «We oppose actions which raise tensions in the South China Sea,» Beaufils said.

The National Task Force for the WPS reported that at past 6 a.m. Sunday while conducting a regular resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre «dangerous blocking maneuvers» of a CCG vessel causing it to collide with a resupply boat contracted by the Philippine Coast Guard.

The BRP Sierra Madre serves as a permanent station for Philippine military personnel deployed to protect and secure Philippine rights and interests in the WPS.