Chinese ships intercepted and collided with two Philippine vessels near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.
US President Joe Biden warned China that the US will defend the Philippines in the event of any attack in the disputed South China Sea. Bloomberg wrote this on Thursday, October 26.
“I want to be very clear: the commitment of the United States to the defense of the Philippines is firm. Any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels or military forces will trigger our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines,” said Biden.
China’s coast guard on October 22 blamed Philippine vessels for the collisions and said the Filipinos were carrying construction materials to strengthen their outpost at Second Thomas Shoal. China has warned the Philippines against further “provocations,” saying these actions violate its territorial sovereignty.
The Philippines said about five Chinese coast guard ships, eight escort vessels and two navy ships had set up a blockade to prevent two Philippine coast guard ships and two boats from delivering food and other supplies to the stranded. Philippine forces.
During the standoff, one of the Philippine Coast Guard ships and a supply boat collided separately with a Chinese Coast Guard ship and vessel. Only one of the two Philippine boats was able to deliver supplies to the Philippine forces.
Biden noted that Chinese ships acted dangerously and illegally while the Philippines conducted a regular resupply mission in its own economic zone in the South China Sea.
Relations between the Philippines and China are strained because of the policies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who chose a way of dealing with the United States.
So, at the beginning of 2023, Japan, the United States and the Philippines decided to strengthen defense cooperation against the backdrop of a possible Chinese military invasion of Taiwan. And in March, the United States and the Philippines conducted joint military exercises, during which they conducted a defense against potential aggression toward the archipelago.
In addition, China has claims to the entire South China Sea, while according to international law it is distributed among several states.
Last week, a Chinese coast guard ship collided with a Philippine resupply boat near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. Two hours later, a Chinese maritime police boat collided with a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the same supply operation.
The Chinese Coast Guard on Sunday, October 22, blamed Philippine vessels for the collisions and said the Filipinos were carrying construction materials to strengthen their outpost at Second Thomas Shoal.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.