South China Sea Tensions Escalate: EU and Allies Sound Alarm as China Tells Critics to ‘Shut Up
Global Concerns Over China’s Actions in the South China Sea
The United States, European Union, Japan, and other countries have expressed concerns over China’s actions in the South China Sea, which have been deemed “dangerous” by the international community.
The European Union (EU) issued a statement condemning China’s actions, saying, “The EU condemns the dangerous actions of the Chinese Coast Guard that obstructed legitimate Philippine maritime operations in the waters near Sabina Reef in the South China Sea.” The EU also stated that these actions “threaten the safety of life at sea and infringe on the freedom of navigation.”
The EU further emphasized that it “condemns all illegal actions that undermine the principles of international law and threaten peace and stability in the region.” The EU also expressed its support for partners to exercise their legitimate rights in the region and elsewhere.
The U.S. State Department has also expressed concern over China’s actions, stating that China’s ”illegal maritime territorial sovereignty claims and aggressive actions threaten freedom of navigation in countries around the world.” The Japanese ambassador to the Philippines also expressed deep concern over “provocative acts that damaged Philippine vessels.”
China has responded to these concerns, with the Chinese embassy in the Philippines stating that the Philippines had “deliberately rammed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel” and that the U.S. and Japan are ”intervening on behalf of the Philippines.” The embassy also warned that China would “never allow any external force to cause a commotion in the South China Sea.”
The Chinese embassy in the EU also urged the EU to ”maintain objectivity and fairness on the South China Sea issue,” stating that the EU has “no right to comment on it” as it is not a party to the issue.
Chinese state-run media has also quoted experts as saying that the frequent intervention of some countries, including the EU, in the South China Sea issue is to cooperate with the United States, and that it is “inappropriate to criticize China” when the South China Sea is a place where many countries benefit from freedom of navigation.
Recent clashes between China and the Philippines in the waters near Sabina Reef have raised tensions in the region, with four incidents reported between the 19th of last month and the 31st of last month.