South China Sea: Philippines accuses Beijing of ‘deliberately stirring up trouble’ in disputed waters

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said he sees Chinese actions in the South China Sea with “great alarm”, after recent confrontations between the two countries in the contested waters.

“We continue to view with great alarm this continuing dangerous manoeuvres and dangerous actions that are being done against our seamen, our coastguard,” Marcos said in an official transcript of his remarks to reporters.

He added the waterway was wide enough for both countries to peacefully coexist.

Malaya’s remarks came a day after the Philippines accused China’s coastguard of harassing, blocking and firing water cannon at Manila’s vessels carrying out a routine resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

The actions of China coastguard were “provocative,” illegal” and “unbecoming of a coastguard officer,” Malaya told a press conference.

The Philippine foreign ministry said it had summoned China’s deputy chief of mission in Manila on Tuesday to convey its protest and to demand that Chinese vessels immediately leave the vicinity of the Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila calls Ayungin.

“China’s interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable,” the ministry said in a statement. “China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

China laid the blame on Manila, saying Philippine ships had illegally intruded into waters near the Second Thomas Shoal – which it calls Renai Reef – so it had to take control measures.

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Wednesday that China’s actions were “patently illegal and downright uncivilised”.

The Chinese action was also