US renews warning it will defend Philippines after Chinese ships collided with vessels

The United States on Monday renewed a warning that it will defend the Philippines against any armed attacks after the island nation accused Chinese coastguard ships of “intentionally” hitting its vessels in the South China Sea over the weekend.  

The Sunday incident took place while Philippines ships were headed to a small outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal on a resupply mission in a disputed part of the sea. 

“Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit” Manila’s supply boat and coastguard ship, Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said at a news conference Monday, as reported by Reuters.  

“This is a serious escalation of the illegal activities conducted by the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea in complete disregard of any norm or convention of international law,” he added. 

The U.S. quickly took the side of its Southeast Asian ally, with national security adviser Jake Sullivan phoning Philippine national security adviser Eduardo Año to reiterate support for the country following China’s “dangerous and unlawful actions,” according to a readout of the call released later Monday. 

Sullivan also “emphasized the ironclad U.S. alliance commitments to the Philippines under the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces — to include those of its Coast Guard — in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea.”

Manila and Beijing have both accused the other of intentionally hitting their boats, the first such incident of Chinese military vessels colliding with a Philippines resupply ship, according to the Philippines military.  

In images and videos since shared to social media by the Philippines, the country’s smaller boats are surrounded by several larger Chinese coast guard and military vessels, with one bumping a ship from Manila.  

The event is the most contentious yet around the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, which China claims as its own and regularly intercepts Philippines ships traveling there. 

The last such incident was earlier this month when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked and circled a Philippines coast guard boat.  

The Philippines regularly conducts resupply missions for a small number of its troops who live aboard an old warship deliberately run aground on the uninhabited shoal in 1999 to lay sovereignty claims. 

Any conflict between the two countries has the potential to pull in the United States, which has forged closer ties with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. since he took office in June 2022.   

Marcos visited Washington in May — the first visit for a Filipino leader in more than a decade — and the Philippines and the United States have also agreed to allow America’s military access to four more military bases on the island in a deal known as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.