The United States condemned China on Monday over a collision with a Philippine resupply ship in the disputed South China Sea, highlighting rising tensions in the vital waterway. The incident occurred near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both nations blaming each other for the confrontation that led to the serious injury of a Filipino sailor.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed deep concern over the incident, which he described as "provocative" and "reckless." He warned that such actions by China could lead to misunderstandings and potentially more violent conflicts. "This kind of behavior [by China] is provocative, it's reckless, it's unnecessary, and it could lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to something much bigger and much more violent," Kirby told journalists.
The Philippines and China have accused each other of causing the collision involving a Philippine navy vessel carrying supplies to personnel stationed on the grounded warship, Sierra Madre, at the Second Thomas Shoal. This area has long been a flashpoint that could escalate tensions between the U.S. and China, given the mutual defense treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated the U.S.'s commitment to its ally, stating that the treaty "extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft - including those of its coast guard - anywhere in the South China Sea." U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell also spoke with his Philippine counterpart to reaffirm this stance.
Rising Tensions in the South China Sea
The latest incident is part of a series of confrontations between the Philippines and China, with each side accusing the other of dangerous maneuvers. The Chinese Coast Guard claimed that the Philippine ship "ignored China's repeated solemn warnings" and "deliberately and dangerously" approached a Chinese vessel, leading to the collision. The Philippine military, however, described the Chinese actions as "deceptive and misleading," accusing Chinese ships of "dangerous maneuvers" including "ramming and towing" of Philippine vessels.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. condemned China's actions, stating that the Philippine armed forces would resist "China's dangerous and reckless behavior." He emphasized that such actions contradict China's statements of good faith and decency.
China has become increasingly assertive in its claims to nearly all of the South China Sea, leading to tensions with other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. A new Chinese law, effective since Saturday, authorizes the Chinese Coast Guard to seize foreign ships that "illegally enter China's territorial waters" and detain their crews for up to 60 days.
U.S. and Philippine Response
In response to the incident, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson condemned China's "aggressive, dangerous maneuvers," which she said "caused bodily injury" and "damaged Philippine vessels." The U.S. State Department also condemned China's actions, calling them "escalatory and irresponsible."
The U.S. and the Philippines have a mutual defense treaty that obligates both countries to defend each other in the event of an attack. This treaty underscores the strategic importance of the South China Sea, a conduit for over $3 trillion in annual shipborne commerce.
Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has sought closer ties with the U.S., stressing Washington's "ironclad commitment" to the defense treaty. Marcos recently warned that the death of any Filipino citizen at the hands of another country in the South China Sea would be "very close" to an act of war.
International Implications
The incident marks a significant escalation in the already tense relations between China and the Philippines. An international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016, stating that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. However, Beijing has ignored the ruling, continuing to assert its territorial claims.
U.S. officials have accused China of obstructing lawful maritime operations by the Philippines and interfering with its freedom of navigation. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell noted that China had "obstructed the Philippines from executing a lawful maritime operation in the South China Sea."
Future Developments
The collision is likely to heighten tensions in the region and could lead to further confrontations. China's new law allowing its coast guard to use lethal force against foreign ships and detain suspected trespassers without trial for 60 days adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation.
The Philippines has responded by deploying additional vessels to patrol and ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal, another flashpoint in the South China Sea. The U.S. Pacific Fleet also concluded a joint maritime exercise with the militaries of Canada, Japan, and the Philippines within Manila's Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea.
