U.S. to guard Philippines navy, coast guard ships from China beneath protection pact

U.S. forces will defend Philippines coast guard vessels used to resupply an uncommon sea base within the disputed South China Sea beneath a U.S.-Philippines protection treaty, the State Department mentioned.

“The United States stands with the Philippines in the face of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) coast guard’s continued infringement upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” a division spokesman introduced in a written assertion that was launched late final week. The United States referred to as on Beijing to halt “provocative and unsafe conduct” within the area whereas persevering with to intently monitor the actions.

The assertion was made two days earlier than President Biden met with visiting Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday in Washington, a gathering meant to bolster ties, together with potential growth of navy relations as a part of the Biden administration’s technique of searching for nearer alliances as a option to counter aggression by China.

Manila has introduced plans to develop the variety of bases within the Philippines utilized by U.S. forces.

The assertion was the second time the U.S. authorities invoked the mutual protection treaty in pushing again in opposition to expansive Chinese maritime claims within the South China Sea.

In March 2019, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo introduced that any armed assault on any Philippines forces, plane or public vessels within the South China will set off the mutual protection obligations beneath U.S.-Philippines protection treaty.

Beijing and Manila each declare sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, a bunch of eight islands and three reefs positioned within the southern a part of the South China Sea.

In a associated growth, Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, mentioned lately that his forces are ready to help the Philippines in countering Chinese interference in resupplying a grounded naval ship used as a base by the Philippines within the Spratlys. Adm. Paparo mentioned China steadily interfered with resupply operations and that its actions have been “clearly unlawful.”

The four-star admiral was referring to latest aggressive maneuvers by Chinese coast guard vessels across the ship BRP Sierra Madre positioned on Second Thomas Shoal, an atoll within the Spratlys.

“We stand ready to come to the Philippines’ assistance, in their exercise of their sovereign rights,” Adm. Paparo mentioned in an interview with Japan’s Nikkei newspaper on Friday. “We support the Philippines’ sovereign rights, in its EEZ [exclusive economic zone],” he mentioned.

The U.S. navy has supplied intelligence to the Philippines on the Chinese maritime threats, he mentioned, noting that the Philippines thus far has not requested for Navy or U.S. Coast Guard assist.

The announcement by Adm. Paparo is a sign the Navy is ready to take navy motion ought to China conduct naval or coast guard operations in opposition to Philippines vessels. The Philippines vessel was escorting a resupply mission to the ship at Second Thomas Shoal, which is about 105 nautical miles from the Philippine province of Palawan.

China’s Foreign Ministry denied the lasering and mentioned its coast guard acted in accordance with legislation.

In late April, one other Chinese coast guard ship sailed inside 130 toes of a Philippine patrol board close to the shoal in what the Associated Press reported was a near-collision.

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning mentioned Second Thomas Shoal, which Beijing calls Renai Reef, is Chinese territory. She asserted that the Philippines coast guard vessel was within the space “without Chinese permission” and closed in on the Chinese vessel.

The Chinese vessel’s response was aimed toward upholding “territorial sovereignty and maritime order,” she mentioned.

The Chinese navy final week rejected latest U.S. and Philippines joint statements opposing Chinese maritime claims and provocative actions within the South China Sea.

Sr. Col. Tan Kefei, a Defense Ministry spokesman, instructed reporters in Beijing that the statements have been “a malicious smear and groundless accusations by the U.S. and the Philippines.”

“China’s infrastructure construction and deployment of necessary defensive forces on certain islands and reefs in the South China Sea are a lawful exercise of national sovereignty, which is absolutely legal and legitimate,” he mentioned.