Australia supports the Philippines against Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea

Australia worried about Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea last week in the second Thomas Riffle, a Philippine-occupied Riffle in the Spratly Islands, where three Chinese Coast Guard patrol vessels blocked Philippine supply vessels and used cannons. Was expressed.

“The Australian Government has consistently expressed concern about the danger or forced use of the Coast Guard in the South China Sea. Such behavior has become volatile,” the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said. Said. statement on Monday.

The Philippines has accused China of illegal activity and told China that it needs to “withdraw” from the zone.

“Ayungin Shoal (another name for Second Thomas Shoal) is part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), an integral part of the Philippines, the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and the Philippines has sovereignty. “Sovereignty and jurisdiction,” wrote Theodoro Lopecin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. statement On Twitter on November 18th.

The Royal Australian Navy’s guided missile frigate HMAS Paramatta (FFH 154) (L) sails on the U.S. Navy’s amphibious attack ship USS America (LHA 6), the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and the Arley Burke class. .. April 18, 2020, USS Barry (DDG 52) guided missile destroyer in the South China Sea. (Distribution via Petio Officer Level 3 Nicholas Finn / US Navy / Reuters)

Australia is 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Judgment The second Thomas Shawl was found to be in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. “

“The arbitral tribunal has admitted that there is no legal basis for China to grant rights to the waters of the Second Thomas Shoal region,” DFAT said. “In accordance with Article 296 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 11 of Annex VII, the arbitral tribunal’s decision is final and binding on both parties in China and the Philippines.”

The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 in favor of the Philippines and other countries in the South China Sea, dismissing Beijing’s allegations against much of the region.

However, the ruling had little impact on the Chinese Communist Party, and Beijing continued to pursue the “nine-dash line” that puts Asia, covering about 85% of the 5.6 million square kilometers (2.2 million square miles) of the South China Sea.Countries in territorial disputes with Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and the People’s Republic of China (Taiwan)

The United States, which has a long-term defense pact with the Philippines, also supported Asian countries after the incident.

China’s actions “increase regional tensions, violate the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea guaranteed under international law, and undermine the rule-based international order,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on November 19. Said in a statement of the day.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will give a video speech at the opening ceremony of the China-ASEAN Business Investment Summit held in Nanning, southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China on November 27, 2020. (STR / AFP via Getty Images)

China’s leader Xi Jinping said at a virtual summit between China and the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on November 22, China never sought supremacy, but “only wanted to pursue it for a long time.” He defended Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea. -Long-term and friendly coexistence with neighboring countries. “

Xi also said that China would never seek hegemony or bully a smaller country.

The 10 member countries of ASEAN include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma (also known as Myanmar), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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