The United States State Department on Sunday, Aug. 6 (Manila time), criticized China’s latest “dangerous actions” in the contested South China Sea, and reiterated the US’ commitment to come to the Philippines’ defense in case of an armed attack against its military.
Philippine and American flags (Photo from US Embassy in the Philippines)
In a statement shared by the US Embassy in Manila via Twitter, the State Department reaffirmed its commitment with the Philippines and called on China to follow international rules and order because it has “no lawful claim” to the resource-rich region.
“The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of dangerous actions by the Coast Guard and maritime militia of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to obstruct an August 5 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea,” the statement read.
“Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking maneuvers, PRC ships interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew,” it added.
Col. Medel Aguilar, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said in a statement that China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels blocked and water cannoned Philippine chartered supply boats “while en route to Ayungin Shoal for a routine troop rotation and resupply mission” to the BRP Sierra Madre on Saturday, Aug. 5.
“Such actions by the PRC are inconsistent with international law and are the latest in repeated threats to the status quo in the South China Sea, directly threatening regional peace and stability,” the US State Department wrote.
“By impeding necessary provisions from reaching the Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC has also undertaken unwarranted interference in lawful Philippine maritime operations.”
The US also expressed Washington’s willingness to invoke its mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) in case of an “armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea.”
It called on China “to abide by the arbitral ruling as well as to respect the freedom of navigation – a right to which all states are entitled.”
The US also asserted that China “has no lawful claim to the maritime area” around Ayungin Shoal, which is inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone “as made clear” by the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s nine-dash line claim.
“The United States reiterates, pursuant to the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines,” it added.