Washington Condemns China’s ‘Escalatory’ Actions in South China Sea, Reaffirms Philippine Alliance

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson transits the South China Sea while conducting flight operations on April 9, 2017. (Z.A. Landers/Courtesy U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters)

The United States has condemned China’s “escalatory and irresponsible actions” in preventing the Philippines from delivering food to its soldiers at an outpost in the South China Sea and reminded Beijing of the U.S.–Philippines mutual defense treaty.

“[China] vessels’ dangerous and deliberate use of water cannons, ramming, blocking maneuvers, and towing damaged Philippine vessels, endangered the lives of Philippine service members, is reckless, and threatens regional peace and stability,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement on June 17.

The Philippines military called Beijing’s move, which disrupted the Philippine mission, “illegal, aggressive, and reckless actions.”

“Their actions put at risk the lives of our personnel and damaged our boats, in blatant violation of international law,” it said.

The China Coast Guard said a Philippine supply ship “deliberately and dangerously” approached a Chinese ship, resulting in a slight collision, after the Philippine ship “illegally intruded” into waters near Second Thomas Shoal, a charge that Manila rejected as “deceptive and misleading.”

Washington “reaffirms” its commitment to the mutual defense pact with Manila, which requires both nations to support each other if either country is attacked by another party, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

“The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 United States–Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft—including those of its Coast Guard—anywhere in the South China Sea,” he said.

In April, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also affirmed the U.S. commitment to defend the Philippines, during the Filipino president’s visit to the Pentagon on his Washington trip.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson also criticized China’s “aggressive, dangerous” maneuvers in a post on X, saying the collision had “caused bodily injury.”

The latest move from Beijing follows a series of recent incidents, which Washington calls “provocation,” in territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

“Beijing’s actions reflect consistent disregard for the safety of Filipinos and for international law in the South China Sea,” Mr. Miller said.

Earlier this month, the Philippine military said Chinese boats intercepted and seized one of four food packs airdropped to a Philippine outpost in disputed waters in the South China Sea on May 19.

Recent months have brought multiple reports of confrontations in the South China Sea between the two countries. In late March, the Philippines accused a China Coast Guard vessel of using water cannons against a Philippine ship, injuring three sailors.

China has warned the Philippines about intruding into what it says are its territorial waters and issued new rules, effective June 15, enforcing a 2021 law allowing its coast guard to use lethal force against foreign ships in waters it claims.

The new rules allow the China Coast Guard to detain suspected trespassers without trial for 60 days.

In response, the Philippine Coast Guard said on June 17 it ordered the deployment of two vessels to patrol and ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal—a second flashpoint about 345 nautical miles away from Second Thomas Shoal.

Unlawful Claims

China asserts control over almost the entire South China Sea, a vital route for more than $3 trillion in annual maritime trade. This claim overlaps with territories claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s maritime claims lack legal basis under international law. However, Beijing ignored the ruling and kept up its actions in the area.

Last week, Sandra Oudkirk, director of the American Institute in Taiwan and de facto U.S. ambassador in Taiwan, warned that the Chinese communist regime’s provocative actions in international waters in the region could lead to a broader conflict if miscalculated.

Last month, Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned the Chinese regime of “an act of war” if Beijing crossed the red line.

“If a Filipino citizen was killed by a wilful act, that is very close to what we define as an act of war,” Mr. Marcos said at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore. “We would have crossed the Rubicon. Is that a red line? Almost certainly.”

Reuters contributed to this report.