US, Philippines Slam China’s ‘Provocative’ Actions at Sea
- Washington, Manila to finalize joint sails of South China Sea
- China warns against aggravating tensions, to protect interests
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US and Philippine officials have expressed their “strong objections” to what they say were China’s unlawful maritime claims and “threatening and provocative activities” in the South China Sea as they committed to finalize plans for their joint patrols of the disputed waters.
The two allies also expressed concern on reports of China conducting further land reclamation on unoccupied areas in the Spratly Islands and called on Beijing to fully comply with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling in The Hague, according to a joint statement issued during the 2+2 dialogue between top US and Philippine diplomats and defense officials. The ruling, which Beijing has refused to recognize, invalidated China’s claim over nearly all of South China Sea.