By Paul Sakkal
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised dangerous actions in the contested South China Sea after the Chinese Coast Guard rammed a Philippines vessel, sparking counterclaims from China that the smaller nation was at fault.
It follows a backflip by the Pacific Islands Forum, a bloc of 18 countries including Australia, to remove a reference to Taiwan from an official communique after Chinese complaints, showing the superpower’s growing influence in the region.
This video grab shows a Chinese coast guard ship, left, colliding with a Philippine coast guard vessel near the Sabina Shoal.Credit: AFP
Saturday’s ramming incident was the fifth confrontation between China and the Philippines in a month as China asserts its claim over most of the crucial trade route, including sections claimed by nations including Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Philippines Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela displayed footage of a Chinese ship that “directly and intentionally rammed the Philippine vessel” without provocation, and revealed damage to the 97-metre Philippines ship. Nobody was injured in the incident.
Australia, the UK and US criticised China’s behaviour.
“We need nations in the South China Sea to recognise the international law of the sea requires safe navigation there,” Albanese said at a press conference on Sunday. “I’ll get a full briefing about it but there shouldn’t be dangerous activity because it comes at great risk.”
Albanese’s call for restraint comes days after he secured a $400 million deal at the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) to fund policing in Pacific nations where China and the US are competing for influence.
A communiqué released at the end of last week’s forum included a segment on “Relations with Taiwan/Republic of China”, sparking the ire of Chinese officials who claim the democratic island as Chinese territory.
After China expressed its discontent, the document was removed from a website on Friday and a new document was posted on Saturday with the references to Taiwan removed. Asked about the change, Albanese was more muted, saying the communique expressed what leaders had agreed at the Tongan conference.
The PIF is an important regional forum where Australia and New Zealand build relations with Pacific nations without China’s involvement, though the rising superpower this week displayed its ability to exert influence despite its lack of formal forum membership.
The US ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, said the US “condemns the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the [People’s Republic of China], including today’s intentional ramming”.
“We stand with the Philippines in upholding international law.”
China has repeatedly laid blame on the Philippines and the US for the driving up regional tension.
Last week, a Chinese defence ministry spokesperson said Washington was emboldening Manila to make “reckless provocations”.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.