Rising tensions within the South China Sea have led to a ship collision
US President Joe Biden has warned China that the US will defend the Philippines in case of any assault within the disputed South China Sea.
Mr Biden reiterated his “ironclad” defence dedication to the Philippines.
Manila has contested Chinese language claims to the waters, chopping floating obstacles and welcoming media to movie what it calls Beijing’s harmful strikes at sea.
“I wish to be clear — I wish to be very clear: The USA’ defence dedication to the Philippines is ironclad. The USA defence settlement with the Philippines is ironclad,” he mentioned.
Signed in 1951, the Mutual Protection Treaty binds the US and the Philippines, its former colony, into defending one another within the occasion of an armed assault.
“Any assault on the Filipino plane, vessels, or armed forces will invoke our Mutual Protection Treaty with the Philippines,” he added in his speech an the White Home on Wednesday, as he welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Chinese language international ministry spokesperson Mao Ning mentioned the US had “no proper to become involved in an issue between China and the Philippines”.
Ought to the US defend the Philippines, its actions “should not harm China’s sovereignty and maritime pursuits within the South China Sea”, she instructed reporters in response to a query on the assertion.
On Sunday, the Philippines mentioned China’s “harmful manoeuvres” had led to a collision between a China coast guard ship and a Filipino provide boat in an space that falls contained in the Philippines’ Unique Financial Zone (EEZ). In a separate incident, Manila mentioned a Chinese language militia boat “bumped” a Philippine coast guard vessel.
The Filipino boats had been on their option to a crumbling navy warship that Manila has marooned on the Second Thomas Shoal to strengthen its claims.
The Philippines’ defence minister, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, mentioned the Chinese language boats “deliberately hit” the Philippine vessels and accused China of “distorting the story to suit its personal ends”.
Mr Biden echoed these claims, saying the Chinese language vessels had “acted dangerously and unlawfully” when the collisions occurred.
Mr Biden reiterated his “ironclad” defence dedication to the Philippines
The Philippines is a crucial strategic ally of the US because it borders two potential flashpoints within the Pacific – the South China Sea and Taiwan.
Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took workplace in June 2022 and revived the Philippines’ alliance with the US, Filipino authorities have turn into extra aggressive in contesting China’s actions within the South China Sea.
Mr Marcos’ international coverage is a reversal of the pro-China stand taken by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who was criticised for not doing sufficient to counter Beijing’s aggression within the South China Sea.
Watch: Boats collide in South China Sea’s disputed waters
