The United States and around a dozen other governments rallied around the Philippines over the weekend after America's oldest ally in Asia reported fresh clashes with China's coast guard and paramilitary vessels in the contested South China Sea.
Ambassadors and embassies in Manila reaffirmed their support for the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his defense of his country's rights under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, and an arbitral tribunal's 2016 ruling in The Hague that rejected Beijing's sweeping claims in the South China Sea under UNCLOS.
The long-running territorial dispute flared up once more after separate coast guard run-ins on December 9 and 10 near the Beijing-held Scarborough Shoal and Manila-controlled Second Thomas Shoal, both of which fall within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, in what it calls the West Philippine Sea.
Marcos, whose administration has lodged hundreds of complaints with Beijing, has settled on what has been described as a "name and shame" public awareness campaign to expose China's coercion in the South China Sea, so-called "gray zone" actions that have deliberately fallen short of the "armed attack" threshold that would trigger the decades-old U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
"No one but the Philippines has a legitimate right or legal basis to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea. The illegal presence in our waters and dangerous actions against our citizens is an outright and blatant violation of international law and the rules-based international order," Marcos said on Sunday.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday echoed the China Coast Guard's claims that Philippines boats had illegally entered China's waters.
United States
U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, in separate X posts over the weekend, condemned China's "aggressive, illegal actions" against Philippine vessels, which Manila said included water cannon attacks, ramming and attempts to blockade its attempts to resupply front-line troops.
The [United States] stands with the Philippines and partners in vehemently condemning the [People's Republic of China's] repeated illegal and dangerous actions against [Philippine] vessels," Carlson said.
"PRC aggression undermines regional stability in defiance of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific," she said on X, formerly Twitter.
In its eighth such public statement in 18 months, the U.S. State Department urged China to "desist from its dangerous and destabilizing conduct."
The department did not immediate respond to a written request for comment about Washington's intention to lend further military support to Manila.
Canada
Ottawa's top envoy in Manila, David Hartman, said on Saturday: "Canada condemns the dangerous and escalatory actions of the Peoples Republic of China earlier today at Scarborough Shoal. Canada reaffirms its support for the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which is final and binding on the parties."
"Canada salutes the resolve and professionalism of the Philippine Coast Guard in the face of the unprofessional, dangerous and irresponsible conduct of PRC-vessels in the vicinity of the Second Thomas Shoal," Hartman wrote on X after the Philippines completed its resupply run the following day, despite China's obstruction.
Japan
Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Japan's ambassador to the Philippines, said on X on Saturday: "Seriously concerned about the dangerous actions by [China Coast Guard] vessels against [Philippine] vessels, which endanger lives and livelihoods and pose the threat to the peace and stability in [the South China Sea]."
Koshikawa reiterated "the importance of upholding international law," including UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award, whose verdict in Philippines v. China was based on the law of the sea convention.
Koshikawa said his government was "gravely concerned" after further clashes on Sunday.
"Japan stands with the Philippines in support of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Japan opposes actions that undermine the peace and stability in [South China Sea]," he wrote.
South Korea
South Korea's embassy in Manila said it was "concerned about the recent use of water cannons against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea."
"We reaffirm our strong support for peace, stability and rules-based order in the South China Sea and for the freedom of navigation and overflight based on the principles of international law, including UNCLOS," it said in an X post on Sunday.
United Kingdom
Responding to the separate run-ins near Scarborough Shoal on Saturday and by Second Thomas Shoal on Sunday, Laure Beaufils, the U.K.'s envoy to the Philippines, said Britain was "aware of the unsafe actions" by Chinese ships against Philippine vessels.
"This endangers lives and livelihoods and undermines regional peace and stability. The U.K. reiterates its full support for UNCLOS," she said on X on Saturday.
"[The U.K.] notes unsafe actions by the PRC against vessels for the 2nd day running," she wrote on Sunday. "This disrupted a [Philippines] routine resupply mission & once again undermines regional stability. [The U.K.] calls for adherence to UNCLOS & the respect of the 2016 arbitral award which is binding on both parties."
Australia
Hae Kyong Yu, the Australian ambassador to the Philippines, said she was "seriously concerned by reports of dangerous actions by Chinese vessels against Philippine vessels," which she said endanger lives and livelihoods.
"Australia remains steadfast in support of UNCLOS and international law. China's further dangerous actions against Philippine vessels today, following yesterday's incident, again risk lives and livelihoods and are deeply concerning," Yu said on X on Sunday.
New Zealand
On Sunday, New Zealand's embassy in the Philippines said its government was "deeply concerned at multiple incidents of dangerous actions towards the Philippines at Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal."
"This includes obstructing civilian boats and the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels, causing significant damage," the statement on X read.
"These actions pose real risks to safety and lives, and risk undermining regional stability. New Zealand again firmly calls for all parties to resolve disputes peacefully in full accordance with UNCLOS," it said without naming China.
European Union
Luc Veron, the EU's top representative in the Philippines, condemned Beijing's use of water cannons and called the series of incidents "deeply troubling," according to two posts on X.
"The EU recalls that UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanisms contribute to maintaining and advancing the rule of law. The 2016 UNCLOS Tribunal Award is legally binding and useful for peacefully resolving disputes. Water cannons aren't!" the ambassador said on Saturday.
On Sunday, Veron wrote: "The 2016 UNCLOS Tribunal Award is a valuable framework for peaceful resolution. Water cannons and dangerous sea maneuvers aren't a legitimate alternative."
France
France voiced concern over China's "very dangerous actions" preventing the Philippines' resupply mission on Saturday, according to an X post by Marie Fontanel, its ambassador in Manila.
The French government, which administers overseas territories in the Indian and Pacific oceans, is a major stakeholder in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
"UNCLOS was signed exactly 41 years ago Dec. 10th 1982. Today more than ever [France] recalls the value of international law to ensure freedom of navigation and is, once again, seriously concerned by the use of water canons in the EEZ to prevent a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre," Fontanel said on Sunday.
Germany
Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke of Germany on Saturday backed the EU's position on the water canon attacks and said Berlin "calls for the respect of the rule of law."
He added the following day: "Second troubling event within 2 days, again use of water cannons by Chinese Coast Guard against [Philippine] vessels within the EEZ of the [Philippines]."
"Germany reiterates its call for the respect of international law, including UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award," Pfaffernoschke wrote.
Netherlands
Marielle Geraedts, the Netherlands ambassador to the Philippines, said her government "strongly condemns all actions that are not in line with UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award."
She wrote on X on Saturday: "Freedom of navigation is an essential part of the international law of the sea."
Denmark
The U.S.'s NATO ally Denmark said it supported the EU's statement on the weekend's events. Its ambassador, Franz-Michael Mellbin, wrote on X: "Call on all nations—especially those who have signed the treaty—to respect UNCLOS and its Tribunal Awards."
Finland
Finland aligned itself with the comments by EU diplomat Veron, Finnish Ambassador to the Philippines Juha Pyykko said on X on Saturday.
Sweden
Aspiring NATO member Sweden said through its Manila embassy on Sunday that it was "deeply concerned about the consecutive incidents against vessels in the West Philippine Sea."
"We call on involved parties to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with UNCLOS and [international] rule of law," according to the public statement on X.
Lithuania
"Reckless maneuvers and water cannon attacks in the South China Sea destabilize the region and violate international law," Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's foreign minister, said on Monday.
Quoted in an X post via Vilnius' Foreign Ministry, Landsbergis said: "Lithuania stands in solidarity with the Philippines and supports the legally binding 2016 South China Sea arbitration."
Ireland
Ireland—one of five non-NATO members in the EU—expressed concern on Saturday over what it called "reports of further actions against [Philippine] vessels in the South China Sea."
"We reiterate our support for the international rules-based order & call for all sides to respect their legally binding obligations as set out in UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award," its embassy wrote on X.
China disputes territory or maritime zones with other claimants including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and Indonesia. Their governments are yet to release a statement on the weekend's events at the time of writing.
"Southeast Asian states have to carefully balance their relations with China, especially on the South China Sea," Aaron-Matthew Lariosa, an independent defense analyst and journalist based in Washington, D.C., told Newsweek.
"For many of these states, a principled stance on these incidents between Beijing and Manila can be perceived as destabilizing in relation to their own relations with China," Lariosa said. "As a result most states remain silent, to the detriment of the Philippines, as well as [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations]' credibility."
The Philippines on Monday said it was "very appreciative" of the countries that had spoken out to lend their support.
Update 11/12/23, 4:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional statements.
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About the writer
John Feng is Newsweek's contributing editor for Asia based in Taichung, Taiwan. His focus is on East Asian politics. He ... Read more
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