Sinita ng Estados Unidos ang anila’y mapanganib na aksyon at pag-atakeng ginawa ng bansang China malapit sa BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal noong Lunes, Hulyo 20, kung saan isang Philippine Navy (PN) sailor ang nasugatan.
Sa isang pahayag na ibinahagi ni United States Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Lee Lipton nitong Martes, Hulyo 21, iginiit niya ang suporta ng Amerika sa Pilipinas—na aniya’y “oldest treaty Ally” nito sa Southeast Asia (SEA).
“The United States condemns China’s dangerous and escalatory actions at Second Thomas Shoal on July 20 that injured a Philippine service member serving on the BRP Sierra Madre,” saad ni Lipton sa kaniyang pahayag.
Aniya, “The United States stands with the Philippines, its oldest treaty Ally in Southeast Asia, as a force for peace and prosperity.”
Giit pa ng ambassador, ang ginawa ng China sa nasabing katubigan ay isang banta sa regional stability.
“China’s actions in the South China Sea threaten regional stability and stand in sharp contrast to Philippine forces’ professionalism and discipline. We join the Philippines’ call for China’s Navy, Coast Guard, and maritime militia to stop their illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions in the South China Sea,” anang ambassador.
Sa hiwalay na pahayag na inilabas ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) noong Lunes, Hulyo 20, ipinanawagan nila ang pagsunod sa 2016 Arbitral Award na pumapabor sa Pilipinas kontra sa China hinggil sa isyu ng South China Sea.
“We call on the People’s Liberation Army and the China Coast Guard to include their maritime militia to put a stop to their illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions within the West Philippine Sea and adhere to the 2016 Arbitral Award that affirms Philippines’ lawful maritime rights under international law,” ani AFP.
Ayon naman sa Department of National Defense (DND) noon ding Lunes, Hulyo 20, tahasan nilang sinabi na ang aksyong ikinasa ng China ay isa lamang patunay na hindi nila mapagkakatiwalaan ang nabanggit na bansa.
“Against the backdrop of the PRC’s circumvention of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and disregard of the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Ruling on the South China Sea, their actions further justify the Department’s position of disengagement—we simply cannot trust this belligerent neighbor,” saad ng DND.
