After a heated run-in between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine patrol ship in the disputed waters on Saturday, the United States asked China to cease harassing Philippine boats in the South China Sea.
The incident at the Ayungin Shoal, also called the Second Thomas Shoal, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, was a "stark reminder" of China's "harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels" in the disputed waters.
“We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. The United States continues to track and monitor these interactions closely,” Miller said in a statement.
He restated the United States' commitment to assisting the Philippines in the South China Sea and warned that any armed assault on Philippine soldiers, government planes, or ships would result in the country's mutual defense treaty being invoked.
According to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which binds the two countries as allies, the United States and the Philippines must protect one another in the event of an attack.
A day before Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s five-day trip to the US, where he would meet with President Joe Biden to discuss social, economic, and security cooperation, he made these statements.
The BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo were halted by two Chinese coast guard ships on April 23 while patrolling in the Ayungin Shoal, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which "exhibited aggressive tactics."
A Chinese ship "carried out dangerous maneuvers" 50 yards away from the BRP Malapascua, the PCG said, presenting "a significant threat" to the crew members' safety.
At a distance of 700 yards, the second Chinese coast guard vessel followed the BRP Malabrigo. The Spratly Islands, which include the Ayungin Shoal, are located about 105 nautical miles off the Philippine province of Palawan.
The exclusive economic zones of coastal states are defined as the marine regions that are 200 nautical miles or less from their boundaries under the 1982 United states Convention on the Law of the Sea. Much of the South China Sea is claimed by Beijing under its "nine-dash line."
