After a series of incidents and clashes on the air and on the sea in the last week, the Philippine government condemned China for its "repeated aggressive and unprofessional" actions.

The Philippines' National Maritime Council said Chinese aircraft performed unsafe maneuvers against a civil aircraft that was conducting patrols above the Scarborough Shoal and Subi Reef.

It said that on Sunday, Chinese ships "blocked, fired water cannons and rammed" a government fishing vessel in Sabina Shoal while resupplying Filipino fishermen.

The maritime council issued a statement saying that these actions were "alarming".

The council stated that "calls into question China's supposed willingness to de-escalate and create an environment conducive for dialogue and consultation in the region,"

The Philippines said it would continue to pursue diplomatic efforts to manage maritime issues and called on China to "return to the path constructive dialogue" in South China Sea affairs.

Gilberto Teodoro, the Philippine Minister of Defence, said separately on Monday that China’s actions are "patently unlawful" after the clash near Sabina Shoal.

We have to be prepared for this kind of behavior from China, because it is a battle. We must be prepared to expect and get used to China's acts, which we have repeatedly called out as being illegal.

Manila's South China Sea Task Force accused Chinese vessels in the incident at Sabina Shoal of ramming a Philippine fishing vessel that was transporting fuel, food and medicine to Filipino fishermen.

The Chinese coastguard said that the Philippine vessel "ignored serious warnings repeatedly and deliberately approached and ran" China's law-enforcement boat, leading to a collision.

Another incident occurred on Monday around the same shoal.

China's Coast Guard claimed it had taken "control measures" to stop two Philippine coastguard vessels from "illegally intruding" into waters near Sabina. It then allegedly approached Chinese coastguard vessels in "a dangerous manner" and "incited hype".

The Philippine coast guard, and the South China Sea Task Force did not respond immediately to a comment request about the latest incident on a holiday in Manila.

Teodoro responded: "That's putting the cart in front of the horse." When asked if the incident on Sunday would trigger treaty obligations, Teodoro replied: Deterring an armed assault is more important.

The Philippines and the United States signed a treaty of mutual defence and Washington promised to assist the Philippines in the event that it was attacked by armed forces on its ships and soldiers in South China Sea.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has not responded to an immediate request for comment. The Philippines celebrates a public holiday on Monday.

China claims sovereignty in nearly all of South China Sea including areas claimed by Philippines, Taiwan Malaysia Indonesia Vietnam and Brunei.

Beijing rejected the decision of an international arbitral court in 2016, which ruled that China’s claim was not based on international law. (Reporting and editing by John Mair; Additional reporting in Beijing by Liz Lee; Editing by Michael Perry, Bernadettebaum and John Mair)

(source: Reuters)