malaysiangThe European Union (EU) Delegation in Manila raised concern over repeated incidents in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) blocking Filipino vessels from entering the Ayungin Shoal. EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron on Sunday said they ‘join the Philippines in its call for the full observance of international law in the South China Sea’ after learning of the report that a CCG vessel made yet another dangerous maneuver within the country’s exclusive economic zone, ‘causing it to collide” with a Philippine military-contracted boat while conducting a regular and routine rotation and resupply to Ayungin Shoal. ‘These incidents, their repetition and intensification are dangerous and very disturbing,’ Veron said on X (formerly Twitter). Echoing the EU, Germany and the Netherlands also expressed support to the Philippines and urged observance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). ‘Germany is very concerned about recent confrontations in the South Cina Sea involving Chinese coast guard ships and maritime militia vessels in the Exclusive economic zone of the Philippines,’ German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke said in a statement. ‘Germany calls on all parties to act in accordance with UNCLOS-rules and to respect the 2016 arbitral award,’ he added. Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines Marielle Geraedts said she is glad nobody got hurt in the incident. ‘Another worrying incident. Glad nobody got hurt. The Netherlands stands with the Philippines in its call for the full observance of International Law in the South China Sea,’ she said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
