中国は東南アジア「最大の平和の破壊者」 比国防相

【マニラＡＦＰ＝時事】フィリピンのギルベルト・テオドロ国防相は２７日、中国が東南アジアにおける「最大の平和の破壊者」だと述べた。南シナ海をめぐる領有権争いで両国の緊張は高まっている。（写真はフィリピン沿岸警備隊の船のすぐそばを航行する中国海警局の船〈右〉）
　テオドロ氏は、首都マニラで開催された米インド太平洋軍の会合で「中国は東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）地域最大の国際平和の破壊者である」と述べた。
　テオドロ氏の発言は、南シナ海での中国とフィリピン船舶による一連の対立を受けてのもの。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/08/27-18:11）

China is the biggest disruptor of peace in Southeast Asia, the Philippine defence chief said Tuesday, as tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed reefs and waters in the South China Sea escalate.
Gilberto Teodoro made the remarks at a conference of the US Indo-Pacific Command after repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the waterway over the past 12 months.
Beijing claims almost the entirety of the sea, brushing aside rival claims by other countries, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.
China's claims include reefs and waters inside the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, which extends about 370 kilometres (200 nautical miles) from the country's coastal waters.
China... is the biggest disruptor of international peace in the ASEAN region, Teodoro said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
China deploys boats to patrol the busy waterway and has built artificial islands that it has militarised to reinforce its claims.
Speaking to reporters, Teodoro urged other countries to call out China's illegal acts until it yields to pressure to stop its actions.
We need a collective consensus and a strong call out against China, said Teodoro.
We are struggling against a more powerful adversary.
His comments come a day after China said it took control measures against two Philippine Coast Guard ships that had entered waters near Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
The Philippine Coast Guard had sent two vessels to deliver provisions to one of its ships at the reef.
They were forced to abandon the mission due to China's excessive deployment of ships and rough sea conditions, Commodore Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for Manila's coast guard, told AFP on Monday.
Several confrontations have taken place in recent days around Sabina Shoal, located 140 kilometres (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 kilometres from Hainan island, China's nearest major landmass.
Both sides have stationed coast guard vessels at the shoal in recent months. Manila fears Beijing is about to build an artificial island.
Relations between the countries have frayed as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos's administration stands up to Chinese actions in the contested waters.
In June, the Philippine military said one of its sailors lost a thumb in a confrontation in which Beijing's coast guard also confiscated or destroyed Philippine equipment including guns near Second Thomas Shoal, also in the Spratlys.