Japan and the United States have criticized and expressed concern over the collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Japan and the US also expressed support for the Philippines.
The incident occurred at Sabina Shoal on Saturday. The Philippine Coast Guard said one of its large patrol ships was rammed by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and damaged. The patrol ship was provided by Japan.
The China Coast Guard claimed that the Philippine side deliberately collided with the Chinese vessel in a dangerous manner.
The Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Endo Kazuya, said on social media that Japan is seriously concerned over the repeated incidents, including Saturday’s collision by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel against a Philippine vessel.
Endo added that Japan opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, and that his country stands together with the Philippines by upholding the rule of law at sea.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller issued a statement on Saturday.
Miller said the US stands with its ally, the Philippines, and condemns the dangerous and escalatory actions by China against lawful Philippine maritime operations.
He added that a Chinese Coast Guard vessel deliberately collided three times with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
Miller said China’s “unlawful claims of ‘territorial sovereignty’ over ocean areas where no land territory exists, and its increasingly aggressive actions to enforce them, threaten the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations.” He called on China to exercise restraint.