Over collisions between Philippine patrol ships and China Coast Guard vessels in the disputed South China Sea, the US government has denounced China.
The US “stands with its ally the Philippines and condemns the dangerous actions” taken by China, the US Department of State said in a statement on Monday. It demands that China stop acting in a risky or unstable manner and adhere to international law.
Additionally, the statement stated that anywhere in the South China Sea, “armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of its Coast Guard,” are covered by the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.
Patrol ships from the Philippines “illegally intruded” into waters close to Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands, according to a China Coast Guard claim made on Monday.
China claimed that a purposeful collision occurred between a Philippine vessel and a Chinese ship.
In retaliation, the Philippine government published pictures it claimed depicted damage to its ships during the collisions.
When two of its patrol boats were delivering supplies to sea-based facilities in the Philippines, it claimed that Chinese ships engaged in unsafe and illegal maneuvers.
