MANILA — France, Germany, and South Korea, in conjunction with five other nations, have jointly conveyed significant apprehension over the “perilous” actions undertaken by the China Coast Guard (CCG), actions that have escalated tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

On Monday, the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and Canada strongly criticized the CCG’s water cannon assault on Philippine vessels during a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on August 5.

The European Mission in Manila also voiced identical concerns.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the South Korean Embassy in Manila expressed alarm over the recent utilization of water cannons against vessels of the Philippines Coast Guard in the SCS.

The embassy reaffirmed its unwavering backing for peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the SCS, a region of paramount significance as an “essential international sea lane of communication.”

Moreover, it championed the concept of “freedom of navigation and overflight” grounded in the principles of international law, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Echoing this sentiment, the German Embassy in Manila voiced its disquiet over the “reckless maneuvers and deployment of water cannons” by Chinese Coast Guard vessels against a legitimate Filipino resupply mission within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The embassy urged all parties to “adhere to the regulations established by the international maritime order,” particularly highlighting Unclos, bolstered by the 2016 Arbitral Award.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s expansive “nine-dash line” policy in the SCS, a policy that encroached upon the Philippines’ EEZ.

Germany, taking recent developments into account, emphasized the necessity for peaceful resolution of disputes, eschewing force or coercion, in line with its assertion that conflicts must be resolved amicably.

The French Embassy, via an official statement, articulated “profound concern regarding the perilous maneuvers executed by Chinese coast guard vessels in the South China Sea.”

The embassy reiterated its staunch endorsement of international law and Unclos, underscoring the “decision rendered by the Court of Arbitration in 2016 concerning the South China Sea.” (AI/MNM)