The U.S. has reaffirmed its defense obligations to treaty ally the Philippines after two Philippine vessels carrying out a routine supply mission collided with Chinese ships trying to block them in an increasingly disputed region of the South China Sea.
The behavior of the Chinese ships "jeopardized Filipino crew members' safety and impeded critically needed supplies from reaching service members," the U.S. Department of State said Sunday.
It added that obstructing the Philippines' maritime activities "undermines regional stability." The State Department reiterated that the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty covers attacks on all Philippine forces "anywhere in the South China Sea."
Eric Sayers, nonresident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, said on Monday on X (formerly Twitter) that he hopes to see the U.S. government agree to "escort and resupply missions" in support of its Philippine ally.
On Sunday morning, a Chinese coast guard ship laid a collision course with a Philippine supply boat in an effort to keep the smaller vessel from resupplying Philippine-held atoll called Second Thomas Shoal in the hotly contested Spratly Islands, according to the Philippines' National Security Council. This resulted in a minor collision about 10 miles from the shoal, where a small detachment of Philippine Marines has been stationed since 1999.
The second incident took place about six miles from the shoal when a Chinese Maritime Militia ship attempted to block one of the Philippine coast guard cutters escorting the supply mission. Philippine officials said no one was hurt in either collision, though the damaged boat was unable to carry out its mission. The extent of the hull damage is still being assessed, they said.
The Maritime Militia comprises unofficial, mostly unarmed, fishing vessels recruited by the Chinese government to help enforce its vast claims in the South China Sea. These ships have been frequently accused of aggressive behavior, such as ramming.
China's territorial claims put it at odds with competing positions by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 ruled in favor of the Philippines and shot down China's assertions. Beijing has disregarded this ruling.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea condemned "in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the [Chinese Coast Guard] and the Chinese Maritime Militia this morning."
The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs summoned China's deputy chief of mission on Monday, as the ambassador was unavailable. The Philippines has lodged 465 protests against China since the beginning of 2020, with 55 being filed so far this year, a department spokesperson said.
China's coast guard hit back in a statement accusing the Philippine supply ships and their escorts of entering Chinese waters without permission in order to "illegally deliver" materials. "The Philippine boats approached in an unsafe manner, in disregard of the stern warnings of the Chinese side and caused a collision," the statement said.
Manila accused Beijing of violating the legally binding 2016 arbitral ruling, as well as a 1972 international convention on conduct for preventing maritime collisions, which both countries signed. According to this agreement, vessels must use every possible means to identify and avoid potential collisions as well as avoid of ships that have the right of way.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry with a request for comment.
Canadian ambassador to the Philippines, David Hartman, said Ottawa stands "in full unity" with the country over "defense of its territorial integrity." European Union Ambassador Luc Véron said "these incidents, their repetition and intensification are dangerous and very disturbing."
Sunday's collisions are the latest in a string of showdowns that are souring ties between the two countries. In August, Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at their Philippine counterpart as it ferried supplies to Second Thomas Shoal.
Last month, the Philippines dismantled a floating barrier erected by Chinese forces to block Philippine fishermen from their fishing grounds near another disputed atoll, Scarborough Shoal. China has warned the Philippines not to "stir up trouble."
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ... Read more
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