PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Iba’t ibang kaalyadong ng Pilipinas ang naglabas ng pahayag at pagsuporta sa bansa kung saan kinokindena ang agresibo at mapanganib na pagkilos ng bansang Tsina sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Matatandaang nito lamang Marso 23, iniulat ng Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP) na binombahan ng tubig ng China Coast Guard ang resupply boat ng Pilipinas na patungong Ayungin shoal na maghahatid sana ng supply sa mga nakatalagang Filipino military personnel sa BRP Sierra Madre at agresibong panghaharas ng People Liberation Army Navy Helicopter sa mga Pilipinong mananaliksik sa Pag-asa Island.
“The European Union is deeply concerned by the incidents which occurred in the South China Sea on 23 March. The succession of repeated dangerous maneuvers, blocking and water-cannoning from Chinese Coast Guard vessel and Maritime Militia against Philippine vessel engaged in resupply missions constituted a dangerous provocation against the Philippines vessels,” ayon sa tagapagsalita ng EU sa nitong Sabado.
“These acts put human lives at risk, undermine regional stability and international norms, and threaten security in the region and beyond. The EU calls for restraint and full respect of the relevant international rules, so as to ensure the peaceful resolution of differences and reduction of tensions in the region,” pahayag pa ng samahan.
Binigyang-diin ng EU na dapat igalang sa lahat ng oras kabilang na rito ang pagbabawal sa paggamit ng puwersa at ang kalayaan sa paglalayag batay sa nilalaman ng United Nation (UN) Charter, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), at ang Arbitration Award ng 2016, pati na rin ang iba pang nauugnay na internasyunal na mga alintuntunin at regulasyon na may kaugnayan sa kaligtasan ng buhay sa dagat.
Nagpahayag din ng suporta si United States (US) Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson laban sa mapangahas na aksyon ng bansang China kamakailan.
“The US stands with the Philippines against PRC’s repeated dangerous maneuvers and water cannons to disrupt Philippine Coast Guard lawful activities in the Philippine EEZ,” ani Carlson sa kanyang social media post.
“The PRC’s interference with the Philippine freedom of navigation violates international law and threatens a free and open Indo-Pacific,” dagdag pa ng opisyal.
Kinondena rin ng United Kingdom Ambassador Laure Beaufils ang China sa panggigipit nito sa mga sasakyang pandagat ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea.
Tinuran naman ni Ambassador Endo Kazuya ng Japan na matindi umano ang kanyang pagkabahala sa paulit-ulit na mapanganib na aksyon ng CCG sa SCS na nagresulta ng ‘severe injuries’ sa mga Pilipinong militar lulan ng resupply boat ng bansa.
“Japan stands in solidarity with the Philippines as confirmed at the Japan, Philippines, US Vice Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in this week,” ani Endo.
Inihayag naman ni Germany Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke na “[a]ll parties must uphold international law and refrain from actions that could endanger peace and stability and put into question legitimate rights under UNCLOS. All disputes must be resolved on the basis of UNCLOS. Germany calls on all parties to respect the 2016 arbitrary award.”
Samantala, inulit ni French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, sa kanyang talumpati, ang pagkabahala ng France kasunod ng insidente noong Sabado sa South China Sea na nagdulot ng pinsala sa mga miyembro ng Philippines Coast Guard pati na rin ang pinsala sa mga sasakyang pandagat.
“France renews its call for respect of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and freedom of navigation,” aniya sa kanyang social media post.
Nagpahayag din ng suporta ang Canada at Australia sa Pilipinas habang nananawagan sila sa mga partido na sumunod sa rules-based order at international law.
“Dangerous maneuvers and the repeated use of water cannons by Chinese vessels against Philippines vessels today endangered lives and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability. We urge the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the international law,” sabi ni Ambassador Canadian Ambassador David Bruce Hartman.
Ayon sa Presidential Communications Office (PCO), nagpakita rin ng pagsuporta sa Pilipinas ang ilang bansa na kinabibilangan ng Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Italy, South Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Spain, at Sweden.