More new developments in the East Sea

The group of ships, including two destroyers, a frigate and a supply ship, appeared on June 19 in the Balabac Strait, off the coast of Palawan Island in the Philippines. As of yesterday, Beijing has not responded to this information.

Although the group of ships appeared in a waterway used by international vessels, this development attracted the attention of observers because the nearby town of Balabac in Palawan is one of four areas added to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed by the US and the Philippines in 2023. Under the EDCA, the number of Philippine military bases that the US can access has increased from five to nine.

Chinese naval vessels during a presence in the South China Sea in March

Security analyst Chester Cabalza, President of the Organization for International Security and Development Cooperation (headquartered in Manila, Philippines), said the presence of Chinese naval vessels in the Balabac Strait means Beijing is preparing for any possible maritime confrontation with Manila and its allies.

Mr. Cabalza said that by sending the ships, China wants to send a message and at the same time test the solidarity between the Philippines and its allies, especially the United States. "Beijing wants to see how Manila and Washington will apply the mutual defense treaty in practice," according to this expert.

In a related development, the Philippines has yet to consider activating its mutual defense treaty with the United States after Manila accused Beijing of interfering with a resupply mission to troops stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal outpost this week. Second Thomas Shoal is a feature in the Spratly Islands, which belongs to Vietnam but is illegally occupied by the Philippines.

Reuters on June 21 quoted Mr. Lucas Bersamin, Chairman of the National Maritime Council of the Philippines, saying that Manila believes the encounter was probably just "a misunderstanding, or an accident". "We have not classified the incident as an armed attack," Mr. Bersamin said.

On the same day, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo (Japan) stated that Japan is not a party to the dispute in the East Sea and therefore has no right to interfere in the issues between Manila and Beijing there, according to Reuters. Previously, the Japanese Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the confrontation between Philippine and Chinese ships near Second Thomas Shoal.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/them-dien-bien-moi-tai-bien-dong-185240622212054718.htm