The State Department has joined the Philippines in condemning what it known as “dangerous actions” by China’s coast guard within the newest flare-up of tensions over clashing territorial claims within the South China Sea.

Philippine navy officers stated Sunday a Chinese authorities ship used “excessive and offensive” pressure in deploying a water cannon to drive again one among two Filipino provide boats that have been delivering troops and provides to a Phillippines-occupied shoal.

The Chinese vessel blocked entry although a world tribunal has already dominated in Manila’s favor in opposition to aggressive maritime territorial claims Beijing has made within the huge, strategic waterway.

China’s aggressive sovereignty claims have led to tensions with the U.S. and a slew of allies across the area, together with the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.

Australia and Japan additionally issued formal protests of the Chinese blocking maneuver, The Associated Press reported. China has but to remark formally on the encounter.

“The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of dangerous actions by the Coast Guard and maritime militia of the People’s Republic of China to obstruct an August 5 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea,” the State Department spokesman’s workplace stated late Saturday in an announcement.

“Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking maneuvers, PRC ships interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew,” the assertion stated.

The U.S. famous that it has mutual protection agreements with Manila and would come to its support within the occasion of an armed assault on its ships, planes or armed forces.

The Philippine navy in an announcement Sunday stated the Chinese coast guard water cannons prevented one among its provide boats from reaching and re-supplying a long-marooned Philippine navy ship.

Beijing has protested up to now that the ship was intentionally left at its place on the shoal greater than 20 years in the past in an effort to bolster Manila’s claims to the atoll.

Chinese forces acted “in wanton disregard of the safety of the people on board,” the Philippine navy stated, however didn't point out if the incident resulted in any casualties.

• This article is predicated partially on wire service studies.

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