Philippines denounces China for 'dangerous and offensive' actions in South China Sea

After a Chinese naval ship tried to cut off a Philippine navy vessel carrying out a resupply mission late last week, the Philippine military warned China to stop its “unsafe actions” in the South China Sea. According to Romeo Brawner, head of the armed forces, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship attempted to cross in front of the Philippine ship close to Thitu island, Manila’s largest and most crucial outpost in the South China Sea, at a distance of as close as 350 yards. “These dangerous and offensive manoeuvres by China’s PLAN not only risk collision but also directly endanger the lives of maritime personnel from both sides,” Brawner said in a statement on Sunday. The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. It was the latest in a series of attempts by China to monitor and block Philippine resupply missions to personnel in Manila-occupied features in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. China’s claims sovereignty to almost the entire South China Sea, through which more than $3 trillion of trade passes each year. Ties between Manila and Beijing have soured since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos pursued closer ties with Washington, including increasing US access to more Philippine military bases.