By Junex Doronio

SEVERAL COUNTRIES have expressed “strong support” for the Philippines after China Coast Guard (CCG) used a water cannon on a Philippine vessel in a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that triggered the 125th diplomatic protest filed under the Marcos Jr. administration.

The varied reaction of the international community was more concerned with China’s “dangerous” actions in the West Philippine Sea, including the use of its coast guard’s water cannon on a Philippine vessel heading to resupply Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on Friday, November 10.

United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson assailed the “continued PRC (People’s Republic of China’s) harassment,” and reiterated that Washington DC would stand by Manila for a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

“Despite continued PRC harassment, the Philippines successfully and lawfully resupplied its forces on the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, located wholly within the Philippine EEZ. (The US and the Philippines) stand together as friends, partners, allies for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Carlson noted.

For her part, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu also called for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to be respected.

“Australia is again concerned by dangerous conduct, including the use of water cannons, by China’s vessels in the Philippines’ EEZ (exclusive economic zone). Upholding international law, especially UNCLOS is fundamental to international peace and security,” Yu said.

Meanwhile, the envoys of Japan and the United Kingdom in Manila also expressed apprehensions about actions that increase tensions and undermine peace in the area.

“We give high importance to a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law as Japan, and the Philippines discussed during PM (Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s) visit last week. Any harassment and actions which increase tensions are not tolerated,” Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa pointed out.

On the other hand, UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils said: “(The UK) notes unsafe conduct again experienced by Philippine vessels on their resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. We join the Philippines in calling out actions that undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

“We are committed to UNCLOS, under which the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding on both parties,” she added.

In addition, the European Union, the Netherlands, and Germany also stressed their support for international law, specifically the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Pfaffernoschke also reposted the Nov. 10 report of the National Task Force – West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on the latest resupply and rotation mission.

“Given today’s event in the South China Sea, Germany reiterates its support for the Philippines in advocating respect for international law in the South China Sea, as an essential pillar for peace and security,” Pfaffernoschke said.

French Ambassador Mariel Fontanel disclosed that she reaffirmed France’s “continuous support” to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) during her meeting with its commandant, Vice Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, and praised the “eventually successful” resupply mission. (ai/mnm)