“The United States stands with our Filipino allies in the face of harmful and illegal movements through the PRC Coast Guard and maritime militias that obstructed the Oct. 22 Philippine resupply project to Second Thomas Shoal,” the State Department’s Array said in a post through its State Department. embassy in Manila.
The State Department blamed Chinese ships for the collisions and said China likely “violated foreign law by deliberately interfering with the exercise of freedom of navigation by Philippine ships on the high seas. “
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL ASKS HIM TO RESIGN AFTER OFFER SAYS WE WILL SUPPORT ISRAEL: ‘POLITICAL DISAGREEMENT’
This symbol posted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows a shipment of Chinese defense forces, above, near the Philippine Coast Guard shipment BRP Cabra as they approach the Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea, on Sunday. October 22, 2023 (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)
In May, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Philippine Secretary of State for Defense Carlito Galvez established the “Bilateral Defense Guidelines” and reaffirmed that “an armed attack in the Pacific, including any part of the South China Sea, on any of its ships, aircraft, or public armed forces – which come with its coast guard – would invoke mutual defense commitments under Articles IV and V of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines in 1951,” the State Department said.
Washington has deployed forces to the disputed sea to patrol the waters and promote freedom of navigation. The move drew the ire of Beijing, which warned the United States to avoid interfering.
On Sunday, about five Chinese coast guard vessels, eight escort vessels and two military vessels formed a blockade to prevent two Philippine coast guard vessels and two ships from delivering food and other materials to Philippine forces stationed in Second Thomas Shoal aboard an abandoned military vessel. ” said Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela. “
CHINA IS INCREASING NUCLEAR ARSENAL AT AN EXPONENTIAL RATE, EXPECTED TO DOUBLE BY 2030, PENTAGON REPORT SAYS
During the clash, one of the Philippine coast guard ships and a source ship were hit by a Chinese coast guard shipment and a ship, Tarriela said.
In this symbol from a video released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Filipino sailors keep an eye on a Chinese coast guard ship with bow number 5203 hitting their home ship as they approach the Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal, in the disputed South. China Sea. Sunday, October 22, 2023. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)
China’s coast guard on Sunday blamed Philippine ships for the collisions.
“Once again, China urges the Philippines to take China’s serious considerations seriously, keep its promise, prevent provocations at sea, prevent taking harmful measures, stop baselessly attacking and defaming China, and tow the illegally ‘stranded’ warship as soon as possible. ” quoted Zhou Zhiyong through the Chinese embassy in Manila.
In this symbol released through the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a ship of Filipino origin, center, sails alongside a Chinese coast guard shipment, above, and a Chinese defense force sends the Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal, into the disputed South China Sea. Sunday, October 22, 2023. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)
On Monday, Philippine diplomats summoned an official from the Chinese embassy in Manila for a corporate protest following Sunday’s clashes. No injuries were reported, but the clashes disrupted a Philippine coast guard shipment and a wooden-hulled ship operated by military personnel. officials said.
The collisions also prompted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to convene an emergency meeting with the defense secretary and other top military and security officials to discuss the latest hostilities in the disputed waters.
After the meeting, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro lashed out at China at a news conference for “brute force” in the region. He also said China’s “aggression” was endangering members of the Philippine team.
CHINA FLIES MORE THAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT TO TAIWAN AS ISLAND CONDEMNS MILITARY ‘BULLYING’
“The Philippine government regards China’s new aggression as a flagrant violation of foreign law,” Teodoro said. “China has no legal right or authority to conduct law enforcement operations in our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. “
“We take those incidents seriously at the levels of government,” he continued. “The Chinese government is intentionally hiding the truth. “
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela (left) speaks with Philippine Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar at a press conference about a recent incident involving Chinese vessels on Second Thomas Bank while speaking to reporters in Quezon City, Philippines. Monday, October 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Marcos ordered an investigation into the offshore collisions, Teodoro said.
Philippine leaders also intend to talk about the damaging maneuvers of Chinese ships in negotiations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on a draft non-aggression pact aimed at avoiding a primary armed confrontation in the South China Sea.
Beijing will host the three-day talks that begin Monday, two Philippine officials told The Associated Press.
Teodoro said it was “very ironic” that China was hosting the talks given its “blatant respect for foreign law. “
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Territorial disputes have China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. These conflicts were seen as a flashpoint in the U. S. -China rivalry.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.