Beijing, 8 Aug, 2023 (GNP): The ongoing tensions in the South China Sea have escalated as China’s foreign ministry has once again urged the Philippines to remove a grounded World War II warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, from the Second Thomas Shoal, an area of contested waters. This call to action follows recent accusations that China’s coastguard fired water cannons at boats attempting to resupply the Philippine garrison stationed on the stranded vessel.
The BRP Sierra Madre, intentionally grounded in the late 1990s to counter China’s advancements in the region, has become a symbol of conflict between Manila and Beijing. Despite multiple diplomatic interactions on the matter, China’s foreign ministry expressed frustration that the Philippines has not fulfilled its promises to remove the vessel from the disputed area.
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China’s foreign ministry stated, “China once again urges the Philippine side to immediately remove the warship from Second Thomas Shoal and restore it to its unoccupied state.” The ministry further noted that China’s repeated attempts to address the issue through diplomatic channels have been met with apparent disregard by the Philippine side.
In response, the Philippines asserted its commitment to maintaining its presence at the Ayungin Shoal, also known as the Second Thomas Shoal. Jonathan Malaya, Assistant Director General of the Philippine National Security Council, emphasized the importance of peaceful negotiations, urging China to avoid escalating matters through aggressive tactics.
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The recent incident involving China’s coastguard blocking and using water cannon against Philippine vessels carrying essential supplies to the grounded warship has heightened tensions between the two nations. China maintains that it took “necessary controls” against vessels that “illegally” entered its waters, while the Philippines seeks diplomatic solutions to safeguard its interests in the disputed region.
China’s ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, expressed the hope that both nations would initiate dialogue promptly to ensure peace and stability in the contested waters. The conflict reflects the broader territorial claims and overlapping sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea, involving multiple countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines.