The United States on Saturday called on Beijing to end its “provocative and dangerous” action in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, raising its voice after an incident that raised tensions with the Philippines, whose president is to be received. Monday at the White House.
“We call on Beijing to desist from its provocative and dangerous action” in these waters, where a collision was narrowly avoided on Sunday between two Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense said in a statement. American State, Matthew Miller.
The United States also warns that no Chinese offensive would go unanswered, while tensions are already high between the two countries, against a backdrop of economic competition and struggles for diplomatic influence.
“An armed attack in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, against Philippine armed forces, government vessels or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would result in the application of mutual defense commitments of States States” with respect to the Philippines, under a 1951 treaty, says the spokesman for the State Department.
The update comes two days before a visit to Washington by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He will be received by his counterpart Joe Biden at the White House.
Taiwan
Proximity to Taiwan could make the Philippines a key partner for the United States should China invade the democratic island it considers part of its territory.
In early April, Manila made four new military bases available to Washington, including a naval base not far from Taiwan, to Beijing’s chagrin.
The incident between Chinese and Filipino boats, which raised the tone between Beijing and Manila, occurred on Sunday near the Spratly Islands.
A collision was narrowly avoided when a Chinese Coast Guard vessel cut off the Philippine Coast Guard vessel. The incident, witnessed by a team from Agence France-Presse aboard another Filipino boat, is the latest in a long series.
It took place near the Second Thomas reef, about 200 km from the Philippine island of Palawan and more than a thousand kilometers from the island of Hainan, the nearest Chinese lands.
“The images and videos recently published in the media are a stark reminder that the People’s Republic of China is harassing and intimidating Philippine vessels carrying out routine patrols in their exclusive economic zone”, denounces the American State Department.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, ignoring a 2016 international judgment that found its claims to have no legal basis.
China has redeveloped and militarized there, over the past ten years, thousands of hectares of reefs where landing strips, ports and radar systems have grown.
Beijing responded to the incident on Friday by accusing the Philippines of “deliberately” wanting to provoke it. Manila for his part assured that “routine patrols in our own waters cannot be premeditated or provocative” and are “a legal right that we have exercised and will continue to exercise”.
Since assuming the Philippine presidency last June, Ferdinand Marcos Jr has vowed that he would not let China encroach on his country’s maritime rights.
In this context, he seeks to improve relations with the United States, a long-time ally of the Philippines, damaged by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.