United States Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, has condemned China’s latest attack on Philippine vessels in Scarborough Shoal, also called Bajo de Masinloc, on Tuesday.
In a post in X, Carlson expressed concern over Beijing’s aggressive posturing, which resulted in one Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) personnel sustaining injuries.
“We commend the Philippine government and @CoastGuardPH for professionally exercising Philippine sovereign rights, protecting Filipino fisherfolk, and upholding maritime law for a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” she wrote.
On the same day, September 16, the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that new tensions had arisen in the West Philippine Sea after two China Coast Guard ships fired water cannons at a BFAR vessel near Scarborough Shoal.
Earlier, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and Australia have expressed support for Philippine sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal after China established a so-called “nature reserve” there.
On September 13, the DFA confirmed that it had already filed a diplomatic protest against China’s establishment of “Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve” at the shoal.