Envoys denounce latest China water cannon attack in WPS

File photo taken last August shows a  China Coast Guard ship preparing to strike a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel with a water cannon on its way to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.  (PHOTO FROM THE PCG FACEBOOK PAGE)

MANILA, Philippines — The American, Japanese and British ambassadors on Saturday rebuked China’s latest act of aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

A China Coast Guard vessel, also on Saturday, aimed a water cannon at Philippine boats on a goodwill mission in the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

“We condemn PRC’s aggressive, illegal actions against 🇵🇭 BFAR vessels lawfully operating in the 🇵🇭 EEZ. This PRC behavior violates international law and endangers lives and livelihoods. We stand with our Philippine #FriendsPartnersAllies in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko expressed serious concern over the actions of the Chinese vessels and reiterated the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

“Seriously concerned about the dangerous actions by CCG vessels against PH vessels, which endanger lives and livelihoods and pose the threat to the peace and stability in SCS. We reiterate the importance of upholding international law, particularly UNCLOS, and 2016 Arbitral Award,” Koshikawa said on X.

British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils likewise said that the maneuvers of the CCG endangered lives and undermines regional peace and stability.

“The 🇬🇧 is aware of the unsafe actions by CCG vessels against Philippines BFAR vessels near Scarborough Shoal today. This endangers lives and livelihoods and undermines regional peace and stability. The UK reiterates its full support for UNCLOS,” Beaufils said in an X post.

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