PH welcomes G7, calls on China to stop harassment, distortion of facts

The Philippines on Tuesday welcomed the Group of 7 (G7) leaders' statement condemning aggressive Chinese actions in the disputed South China Sea, as it called on Beijing to stop distortion of facts, dangerous moves and harassment of Filipino crew and vessels.

Manila said the statement of the G7 — a group of industrialized powers made up of Italy, Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Japan — demonstrated its "commitment to upholding a rules-based international order and the rule of law in all parts of the world."

"The Philippines shares the G7's vision of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region, and stands firm against any actions that undermine international security and stability," a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) statement said.

China, it added, should "stop its provocative behavior and distortion of the facts, including through enactment and enforcement of domestic laws and regulations that overreach into the legally-settled maritime zones of the Philippines in violation of international law."

"We call on China to show sincerity in working together to de-escalate the situation, in the spirit of dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes," the DFA said.

In a communique issued at the end of a summit in Apulia, Italy over the weekend, G7 leaders expressed strong opposition to any "unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea by force or coercion."

It also opposed China's dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries' high seas freedom of navigation.

The G7 called China's massive claim "baseless and excessive" as it reaffirmed its recognition of the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award largely won by the Philippines, which invalidated Beijing's claim on nearly the entire resource-rich waters.

G7 leaders said the ruling is a "significant milestone and a useful basis for the peaceful management and resolution of differences at sea."

China, meanwhile, hit back at G7, saying its end-of-summit statement was "full of arrogance, prejudice and lies."

On Monday China's foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the statement had "slandered and attacked China."

It had "rehashed cliches that have no factual basis, no legal basis, and no moral justification, and are full of arrogance, prejudice and lies," he said at a regular press briefing.

China's increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea prompted serious concerns and condemnations from several countries after China’s coast guard vessels have repeatedly blasted water cannons, used military-grade lasers, and blocked Philippine government ships from conducting resupply missions from a shoal, locally called Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal, that Beijing claims as its own. 

Incidents of collision between Chinese and Filipino vessels have been increasing and several injuries from the Philippine side have also been reported.

China has also been harassing Philippine vessels and fishermen and installed barriers at the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, which lies within Manila’s exclusive economic zone under a United Nations maritime convention.

"We appreciate the G7's call for China to cease its illegal activities, particularly its use of coast guard and maritime militia that engage in dangerous maneuvers and the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels," the DFA said.

China is unilaterally enforcing a new regulation that took effect on June 15, empowering its coast guard to detain without trial foreign "trespassers" in the South China Sea — a move that Philippine officials say violates international law.

Manila uses the name West Philippine Sea for parts of the South China that falls within its exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"We continue to value the G7’s support in confirming the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," the DFA said. "The Philippines shares this firm, unwavering and principled commitment to UNCLOS and its processes." —KBK, GMA Integrated News