00:00 The heads of state from Japan, the Philippines and the United States have jointly expressed
00:07 grave concern regarding China's conduct in the contested South China Sea.
00:12 Over recent years, Beijing has intensified its presence in the crucial maritime region,
00:19 leading to heightened tensions, notably with the Philippines.
00:24 This nation, among others in Southeast Asia, asserts territorial claims over portions of
00:30 the sea adjacent to its shores.
00:33 In response to a recent altercation near Second Thamar Shore that resulted in injuries to
00:38 Filipino soldiers and damage to vessels, President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines declared
00:45 Manila's intention to enact countermeasures against China.
00:50 The leaders of Japan, the Philippines and the United States expressed shared concern
00:55 over the People's Republic of China's (PRC) provocative actions in the South China Sea
01:02 during the inaugural summit held in Washington, D.C.
01:06 This joint statement comes amid escalating tensions in the region.
01:12 Beijing's expansive territorial claims, encapsulated in its so-called "Nine-Dash Line," which
01:18 encompasses nearly the entire South China Sea, have been met with international skepticism.
01:25 A landmark ruling by the International Court in 2016 rejected China's claims, yet Beijing
01:32 has continued to assert its dominance in the area.
01:36 Beyond the Philippines, countries such as Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam also stake territorial
01:42 claims in parts of the contested sea.
01:45 The statement noted the importance of respecting the sovereign rights of states within their
01:51 exclusive economic zones, which is called EEZ, consistent with international law, as
01:57 reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is UNICLAS.
02:04 It also reiterated the three states' opposition to China's dangerous and coercive use of Coast
02:10 Guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea.
02:15 Second Thomas Shaw, also referred to as "Yong-Gen" in the Philippines, has become a focal point
02:22 of contention between Beijing and Manila in recent months.
02:27 China's Coast Guard has engaged in multiple confrontations, including the use of water
02:32 cannon against vessels attempting to resupply a group of Filipino sailors stationed aboard
02:39 the deliberately grounded Sierra Madre, located approximately 200 kilometers, which will be
02:45 124 miles from the western Philippine island of Palawan.
02:50 Second Thomas Shaw falls well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, as stipulated by the
02:57 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNICLAS.
03:02 Conversely, it lies over 1,000 kilometers, which is 621 miles from China's southern Hainan
03:09 island, underscoring the disputed nature of China's claims in the region.
03:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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