MANILA, Philippines – The United States’ State Department on Sunday, September 1 (Saturday, August 31 in the US) said China’s claims and “aggressive actions” in the West Philippine Sea, “[threatens] the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations,” after the China Coast Guard (CCG) rammed a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship on “extended patrol” in those waters.
“The PRC’s unlawful claims of ‘territorial sovereignty’ over ocean areas where no land territory exists, and its increasingly aggressive actions to enforce them, threaten the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement.
On August 31, a CCG vessel “deliberately rammed and collided” the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua thrice after she dropped her anchor in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, where she has been staying since April 2024.
The 97-meter vessel was surrounded by Chinese maritime forces, too – two CCG ships and two Chinese military tugboats. Even more Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, who act as enforcers of Beijing’s military vessels at sea, were also in the immediate vicinity of the Magbanua.
The Magbanua sustained damage, including a gaping hole in what seems to be her hull, based on photos released by National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela.
Still, the Philippine said the Magbanua will “remain and maintain its operations in the West Philippine Sea.”
The vessel was first deployed to Escoda Shoal over concerns that China had plans of reclaiming the feature. Beijing has denied these allegations and has protested the Magbanua’s month-long deployment in the shoal.
“This is the latest in a series of dangerous and escalatory actions by the PRC. On multiple occasions throughout August 2024, the PRC has aggressively disrupted lawful Philippine aerial and maritime operations in the South China Sea, including at Sabina Shoal,” said Miller.
Escoda Shoal has quickly turned into a flashpoint for tensions between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea, or part of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. In August, Philippine vessels who were either passing Escoda Shoal from a distance or heading to the shoal itself for humanitarian missions — to either bring supplies to fisherfolk nearby or the Magbanua herself — were harassed by the CCG.
PCG ships during separate missions on August 19 and 25 were rammed by the CCG. The August 26 mission to bring supplies to the Magbanua had to turn back after the two smaller PCG vessels were blocked by 40 Chinese ships.
“The United State reiterates its call for the PRC to comport its claims and actions with international law and to desist from dangerous and destabilizing conduct. The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea,” he added.
The US, the Philippines’ lone treaty-ally, has repeatedly said its commitment to help defend the Philippines is “iron clad,” even as Beijing continues to step up its claims and aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo, during a visit to Manila, said escorting Philippine ships during missions to the West Philippine Sea was an “entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defense Treaty.” Philippine Military chief General Romeo Brawner, Jr. has said that the Philippines will not seek US assistance unless it is unable to complete resupply missions, and Filipino personnel are on the “verge of dying.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently warned US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan against using “bilateral treaties as an excuse to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor should it support or condone the Philippines’ actions of infringement.” Sullivan, in turn “expressed concern about the PRC’s destabilizing actions against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea.”
China does not recognize the Philippines’ 2016 Arbitral Ruling win, which has meant that it still asserts its sovereignty claims even over maritime features in the West Philippine Sea. — Rappler.com