In a show of unwavering resolve, the Philippines has pledged to continue its supply missions to troops stationed on a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, despite increasing Chinese naval activity in the area.
"We are still going to carry out these dangerous missions despite our limited number of vessels and despite the increasing number of Chinese vessels they are going to deploy," declared Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela in a press conference.
This stance comes as the Philippines routinely sends supplies to troops living aboard an aging warship, deliberately run aground on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's sovereignty claims over the atoll. The area, claimed almost entirely by China, has seen a significant deployment of Chinese vessels, challenging the Philippines' presence.
During a recent confrontation, a Chinese coast guard ship targeted a Philippine motorboat with a water cannon. The incident, part of a series of aggressive maneuvers by China, highlights the escalating tensions in this strategic waterway. Despite these challenges, the Philippine contingent successfully delivered supplies to the handful of Filipino marines aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, a symbol of Manila's territorial claim.
The U.S. State Department has reiterated its support for the Philippines, with whom it shares a defense treaty. "We urge the PRC (People's Republic of China) to respect the high seas freedoms of navigation guaranteed to all states under international law," the department stated, reaffirming its commitment to the mutual defense agreement.
Under President Ferdinand Marcos's administration, there has been a noticeable shift towards strengthening ties with Washington, countering the previous pro-China stance and intensifying the situation in the South China Sea.
In response to China's actions, Tarriela emphasized, "Regardless of how dangerous the maneuver that they're going to throw at us, whether they use water cannon, whether they use military-grade laser, we are not going to allow them to make Philippine coast guard personnel on board our vessels to escalate the tensions."
The confrontation in the South China Sea, particularly at the Second Thomas Shoal, poses a risk of escalating into an armed conflict, potentially drawing in the United States against China. This prospect has led to a sense of urgency in international diplomatic circles, with many advocating for peaceful resolutions in the region.
