The US warned that it would protect the Philippines after an incident involving a Chinese ship
MANILA, Philippines — The United States renewed its warning on Monday that it would defend the Philippines in the event of an armed attack under a 1951 treaty, after Chinese ships intercepted and collided with two Philippine ships.off disputed shoals in the East Sea.
Philippine diplomats summoned a Chinese embassy official in Manila on Monday in strong protest following Sunday’s clashes off Second Thomas Shoal.
Officials said no injuries were reported, but the clashes damaged a Philippine Coast Guard ship and a wooden-hulled supply ship operated by the navy.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
convened an emergency meeting with the defense minister and other top military and security officials to discuss the latest hostilities in the disputed waters.
The Philippines and China’s other neighbors have opposed Beijing’s sweeping territorial claims across nearly the entire South China Sea, and some, like Manila, have sought US military support when incidents increase.
After the meeting, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in a press conference criticized China for using “brutal force” which he said endangered Philippine crews and had distorted the truth to cover up his attack.
“The Philippine government views China’s latest act of aggression as a flagrant violation of international law,”
Teodoro said.
“China has no legal right or authority to conduct law enforcement operations in our territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.”Mr.Teodoro said Marcos had ordered an investigation into the collisions at sea, but he refused to reveal what steps the Philippine government would take.
“We take these incidents seriously at the highest levels of government,” he said, adding that the government had requested a press conference to provide specific information.
“The Chinese government is deliberately hiding the truth,” the Defense Minister said.
The Philippines also plans to sound the alarm about dangerous actions by Chinese ships during negotiations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on a draft non-aggression pact – a “code of conduct” – aimed at preventing major armed conflicts in the South.China Sea.
Beijing will hold three-day talks starting Monday, two Philippine officials told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to lack of authority to publicly discuss details of the talks.Teodoro said it was “very ironic” that China is conducting negotiations to prevent major conflicts at sea when it has just committed “a blatant disregard for international law”.
Territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have long been seen as flashpoints on a fragile fault line in the rivalry between the US and China.
About five Chinese coast guard ships, eight corvettes and two naval vessels blockaded on Sunday to stop two Philippine coast guard ships and two ships from transferring food and other supplies to Philippine forces stationed at Second Thomas Shoal on an abandoned naval vessel., said Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard.
During the struggle, one of the Philippine Coast Guard ships and a supply ship were rammed by the China Coast Guard ship and another ship.
Tarriela said only one of the two Philippine boats could deliver supplies to Philippine forces.
China’s top diplomat summoned by Philippine foreign officials reiterated China’s claim that Philippine ships had trespassed into Chinese territory.
“China once again calls on the Philippines to seriously consider China’s concerns, honor its promises, stop provocations at sea, stop taking dangerous measures, stop attacks and “baseless slander.
” China, at the same time tow the illegally ‘grounded’ warship as soon as possible.” The Chinese Embassy in Manila quoted Mr.Zhou Zhiyong.
He was referring to the Sierra Madre, which serves as a Manila’s territorial outpost after intentionally running aground in 1999.
China’s coast guard on Sunday blamed Philippine ships for the collision and said the Filipinos were conducting business building materials to fortify their outpost on the shoal.
The Philippines said the first incident occurred shortly after 6am.local time and the second incident occurred about two hours later.He accused Chinese maritime militia vessels of attacking his ship while it was “actively engaged in coordinated operations to harass, hinder and obstruct Philippine vessels.”
“We will not be discouraged and we will continue to supply our troops at BRP Sierra Madre despite provocations,” said Secretary-National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano in a declare.
CCTV, China’s state news agency, reported that the Philippine ship ignored multiple warnings, accusing the Manila ship of trespassing and “deliberately causing trouble”.
“The Philippines’ actions seriously violate international rules to avoid collisions at sea and threaten the maritime safety of our ships,” CCTV wrote.
“Our operations are professional, standardized, legal and legal, and the responsibility
lies entirely with the Philippines.”
No one was injured in either incident and an investigation is underway into the extent of damage
Second Thomas Shoal, known in the Philippines as Ayungin Shoal, is a reef located in the Spratly Islands.
China claims this area and much of the South China Sea through its controversial nine-dash line map, which has been rejected by several countries, including the United States.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague also ignored its 2016 ruling in Manila. This incident is also not the first confrontation between the two neighboring countries in the East Sea.
Earlier this month, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela detailed six separate incidents involving several Chinese vessels to how Philippine vessels were performing routine replenishment duties within en 3 feet.
Late last month, the Philippines removed a 1,000-foot floating barrier that it accused China of installing in a disputed area of the South China Sea.
