Stop engaging in provocative and risky behavior in the South China Sea. US notifies China
According to a statement released by the State Department, the United States urged China to stop engaging in provocative and dangerous behavior in the South China Sea. The statement also stated that the United States continues to closely observe and monitor these exchanges.
This declaration followed the Philippines accusing China’s coast guard of “aggressive tactics” on Friday after an incident occurred during a patrol by the Philippine coast guard near the Philippines-held Second Thomas Shoal, a flashpoint for prior disputes located 105 nautical miles (195 km) off its coast, according to Reuters.
According to the State Department, the US supports the Philippines against People’s Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard actions that continue to restrict freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
The PRC intimidates and harasses Philippine vessels when they conduct routine patrols inside their exclusive economic zone, as seen by images and video that have lately been disseminated in the media, according to the state department.
“The United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and reaffirms that an armed attack in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S. Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” the statement continued.
