Blinken Affirms US ‘Ironclad Commitments’ to Philippines After Clash With China in South China Sea

A Chinese Coast Guard ship fires a water cannon at Unaizah May 4, a Philippine navy chartered vessel, conducting a routine resupply mission to troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5, 2024. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored Washington’s “ironclad commitments” to the Philippines during his call with Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo to discuss the Chinese regime’s recent actions in the South China Sea.

“Their discussion followed the PRC’s dangerous and irresponsible actions to deny the Philippines from executing a lawful maritime operation in the South China Sea on June 17,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on June 19. PRC is the acronym for communist China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.

During the call, Mr. Blinken emphasized that Beijing’s actions “undermine regional peace and stability and underscored the United States’ ironclad commitments to the Philippines under [the] Mutual Defense Treaty,” Mr. Miller stated.

Days earlier, Washington condemned the Chinese regime’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.

‘Illegal and Aggressive’

The latest incident occurred on June 17 in disputed waters in the South China Sea, where the Chinese coast guard disrupted a Philippine humanitarian delivery mission to its outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal.

Philippine military officials said Chinese coast guard personnel were carrying knives and spears, looted firearms, and “deliberately punctured” Philippine boats involved in the mission. They described the Chinese action as “intentional-high speed ramming.”

A Philippine military spokesperson said a sailor lost a finger in the incident and is recovering in a hospital. He received a medal from the military chief on June 19 for his action.

Footage released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shows multiple Chinese boats approaching and encircling Philippine vessels. A Chinese coast guard member in an orange life jacket is seen carrying an axe and acting aggressively toward the Philippine boats. Another Chinese person appears to be pointing a machete at the Philippine crew.

“Despite facing overwhelming numbers and harassment from the [Chinese coast guard], Filipino troops valiantly fought back and defended their position. The AFP maintains professionalism and steadfast commitment to uphold international law and preserve peace in the region,” the AFP said in a statement posted on X on June 19.

The Philippine foreign ministry denounced the Chinese military’s actions as “illegal and aggressive.”

The ministry said it sought peace and exerted “efforts to rebuild a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation with China on the South China Sea,” adding that “this cannot be achieved if China’s words do not match their actions on the waters.”

The ministry urged China to follow international law and respect the Philippines’ sovereignty.

Beijing denied the allegations.

“The law enforcement measures ... were professional and restrained, aimed at stopping the illegal fishing by Philippine ships, and no direct measures were taken against Philippine personnel,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a news briefing on June 19.

Canada and the UK condemned the Chinese regime’s actions, while France and Japan have expressed concern over the incident.

‘They Acted Like Pirates’

Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. condemned the Chinese regime’s actions and praised his soldiers while talking to the troops at the headquarters of the Western Command on June 19.

“The good thing is that we fought. The Chinese Coast Guard personnel had bladed weapons and our personnel fought with bare hands. That is what’s important. We were outnumbered, and their weapons were unexpected, but our personnel fought with everything that they had,” Gen. Brawner said in a statement.

He described the Chinese coast guard’s actions as those of pirates.

“Only pirates do this. Only pirates board, steal, and destroy ships, equipment, and belongings,” he said.

During a briefing on the same day, Gen. Brawner condemned the Chinese regime’s actions.

“They have no right or legal authority to hijack our operations and destroy Philippine vessels,” he said. “They boarded our boats illegally, they got our equipment, they acted like pirates.”

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has warned the Philippines about intruding into what it says are its territorial waters and issued new rules that took effect on June 15, enforcing a 2021 Chinese law allowing its coast guard to use lethal force against foreign ships in waters it claims.

The new rules allow the Chinese coast guard to detain suspected trespassers without trial for 60 days.

The Philippines and China have repeatedly sparred over disputed territories within Manila’s exclusive economic zone this past year.

The CCP claims 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 Beijing’s maritime claims lack legal basis under international law. However, the CCP ignored the ruling and continued to assert control in the region.

Reuters contributed to this report.