Reuters-US commends Philippines on removal of Chinese barrier in South China Sea
September 28, 2023 2 min 381 words
这则报道涉及到菲律宾在南中国海有关领土争端的一项举措，引发了美国的赞赏和中国的争议。可以看出，菲律宾采取了行动，移除了中国在南海斯卡伯勒暗沙附近的浮动障碍物，这被美国高级国防官员视为“捍卫自己主权的大胆举措”。对于中国在斯卡伯勒暗沙部署长期存在的障碍物，菲律宾表达了强烈的不满，认为这违反国际法并对航行构成威胁。 美国国防部门的代理助理国防部长林赛·福特在国会听证会上对菲律宾的行动表示赞赏，并重申了美国对亚洲盟友的安全承诺。她明确表示，美国认为菲律宾的武装力量、公共舰船和飞机受到武力袭击的情况适用于南中国海，包括菲律宾海岸警卫队。这表明了美国在南中国海问题上的坚定立场。 然而，中国海警对菲律宾的事件说法有不同，称中国已在菲律宾非法进入该地区的一天后于周六收回了障碍物。这一事件凸显了中菲关系的紧张，尤其是在菲律宾与美国加强军事关系的同时。此前，菲律宾和美国达成的“增强国防合作协议”也被提及，该协议允许美国在菲律宾再获得四个军事基地的使用权，这使得局势更加复杂。 斯卡伯勒暗沙的控制权问题一直备受关注，中国在2012年占领了该地区。此举成为菲律宾在海牙常设仲裁法院提起的一项法律案件的一部分。2016年，该法院裁定，中国对南中国海90%的主张在国际法下没有依据。然而，中国一直拒绝承认这一具有里程碑意义的裁决。 总的来说，这则报道突显了南中国海争端的复杂性和紧张性，以及美国在地区问题上的积极介入。它还反映了亚洲国家在地缘政治舞台上不断演变的关系，将继续引发国际社会的关注和讨论。
The Philippines' removal of a Chinese floating barrier near the Scarborough Shoal in a disputed part of the South China Sea was "a bold step in defending their own sovereignty," a senior U.S. defense official said on Thursday.
Manila had expressed outrage over China's placement of a long, ball-buoy barrier near the rocky outcrop, some 200 km (124 miles) from the Philippines. It has seen years of intermittent flare-ups over sovereignty and fishing rights.
The Philippines coast guard said on Monday it executed a "special operation" to remove the barrier, calling it a violation of international law and a hazard to navigation.
During a congressional hearing, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford commended the Philippines' action and reaffirmed Washington's security commitments to its Asian ally.
"The department has been incredibly clear that when it comes to our treaty commitments to the Philippines, we believe an armed attack against Philippine Armed Forces, public vessels, aircraft, apply to the South China Sea. That includes the Philippine Coast Guard," Ford told a House of Representatives subcommittee on foreign affairs.
"We stand by those commitments absolutely," she said.
The Chinese coastguard late on Wednesday disputed the Philippine version of the events, saying the Chinese side had retrieved the barrier on Saturday after deploying it a day earlier when a Philippine vessel "illegally" entered the area.
China's foreign ministry has defended the actions of its coast guard as "necessary measures" after a Philippine bureau of fisheries vessel "intruded" into its waters on Friday.
The incident highlights the strained relations between China and the Philippines at a time when Manila is rapidly strengthening military ties with Washington.
Ford said the U.S. was "thrilled" about the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a deal reached earlier this year between Manila and Washington that gives the U.S. access to four more military bases in the Philippines.
Control of the strategic Scarborough Shoal, seized in 2012 by China, is a sensitive issue as it formed part of a legal case filed by the Philippines at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. The court ruled in 2016 that Beijing's claim to 90% of the South China Sea had no basis under international law.
China has refused to recognize the landmark ruling.