The Chinese coast guard has asserted in a statement that it has granted the Philippines permission to conduct a medical evacuation of an individual who had fallen ill on a warship stranded on the Second Thomas Shoal. However, the Philippine Coast Guard has dismissed this claim as “ridiculous,” emphasizing that the situation highlights China’s illegal deployment of vessels within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
According to the Chinese Coast Guard, they closely monitored the entire rescue operation on Sunday in response to a request from the Philippines. However, the Philippine coast guard reported experiencing numerous obstructing and delaying tactics from the Chinese coast guard during the medical evacuation. This comes in the wake of the PCG’s previous accusations against its Chinese counterpart of blocking a medical evacuation from the warship, which they described as “barbaric and inhumane.”
In a further development, China’s foreign ministry stated that the Philippines must notify Beijing ahead of any mission involving the delivery of supplies and evacuation of personnel. This statement comes amid the ongoing presence of Philippine soldiers aboard an aging warship deliberately grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to reinforce the Philippines’ maritime claims. Over the years, China’s navy has clashed with Philippine forces seeking to resupply the grounded ship, with the two countries locked in territorial disputes over the resource-rich South China Sea.
It is worth noting that China claims the majority of the South China Sea as its own territory, a claim that has been met with resistance from neighboring countries and has raised concerns among key stakeholders due to the sea’s significance as a major shipping route for global trade. The 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, which declared that China’s expansive maritime claims had no legal basis, has been received with rejection by Beijing.
In conclusion, the complexities of the situation in the South China Sea continue to be a point of contention between China and the Philippines. The recent incident surrounding the medical evacuation further emphasizes the existing disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the region. Given the strategic importance of the South China Sea for international trade and commerce, the need for peaceful resolution and adherence to established legal frameworks remains paramount.
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