As Philippines sailor hurt in South China Sea incident, U.S. cites risk of “much more violent” confrontation

June 18, 2024
1 min read
As Philippines sailor hurt in South China Sea incident, U.S. cites risk of “much more violent” confrontation


The White House condemned China on Monday for what the Philippines called an “intentional high-speed ramming” by the Chinese Coast Guard of one of its replenishment ships in the South China Sea. A Filipino sailor was seriously injured in the collision, the Philippine military said.

“We are deeply concerned about the injuries suffered by the Filipino sailor, obviously wishing him the best in terms of recovery,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. “This type of behavior [by China] It’s provocative, it’s reckless, it’s unnecessary and it can lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to something much bigger and much more violent.”

The Philippines and China have accused each other of causing the clash, involving a Philippine navy ship carrying supplies for a small group of personnel on a warship stranded on Second Thomas Shoal, which has long been considered a flashpoint that could trigger a greater conflict. conflict between the USA and China.

The US and the Philippines have a mutual defense treaty that obligates the two countries to help defend each other in any major conflict.

Philippines carries out supply mission to Ayungin Shoal
A Chinese Coast Guard ship fires a water cannon at a ship chartered by the Philippine Navy carrying out a routine resupply mission to troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, March 5, 2024, in the South China Sea.

Getty


On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell spoke by phone with his Philippine counterpart and both reaffirmed that the treaty “extends to armed attacks to the armed forces, public vessels or aircraft of the Philippines – including those of its coast guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.”

There have been several incidents in recent months near the sandbar where a deliberately stranded Philippine navy ship called the Sierra Madre is held by the Philippine military. An attack on the ship could be seen by the Philippines as an act of war.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said after Monday’s incident that the Philippine military would resist China’s “dangerous and reckless behavior” which “contradicts its declarations of good faith and decency.”

China has become increasingly assertive in its claim to nearly all of the South China Sea, which has led to tensions with other countries that also have claims to the waters, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

A new Chinese law that came into force on Saturday authorizes China’s coast guard to seize foreign ships “illegally entering China’s territorial waters” and to detain foreign crews for up to 60 days, Reuters news agency reported.



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