The United States said on Monday (Oct 13) it stood by its ally the Philippines and emphasised their mutual defence treaty after Chinese and Philippine vessels clashed amid heightened tensions in the disputed South China Sea.
Earlier, China’s Foreign Ministry urged Manila not to challenge Beijing’s efforts to “safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests” after Sunday’s incident in the Spratly Islands, in which the Philippines said China deployed water cannon and rammed a Filipino vessel.
US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott condemned China’s “ramming and water cannoning” of a Philippines vessel and said Washington stood with its ally “as they confront China’s dangerous actions which undermine regional stability”.
In a statement, Pigott reaffirmed that Article IV of the 1951 US 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”.
China and the Philippines have traded accusations over the confrontation near Sandy Cay, a coral reef within the Spratly Islands.
The two nations have confronted each other repeatedly in recent years in the South China Sea, a strategic trade route that facilitates more than US$3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce, and which China claims most of.
Tensions have heightened recently and Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, told a regular press briefing the Philippines should immediately stop “violations and provocations”.
Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/us-back-philippines-south-china-sea-vessel-clash-5399541