The United States accused Beijing on Friday of having caused an escalation of tensions with the Philippines and warned that an armed attack would force them to react, after an incident in the South China Sea.
“The United States supports its ally, the Philippines, in the face of this escalation which directly threatens regional peace and stabilityState Department spokesman Ned Price said in Abuja, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling.
On Thursday, the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of firing water cannons at ships supplying Philippine military personnel in the hotly contested South China Sea.
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This act “increases regional tensions, undermines freedom of navigation in the South China Sea guaranteed by international law and undermines international order“continued Mr. Price.
He warned that the United States would be obliged to react in the event of “armed assault on Filipino ships“, by virtue of the United States – Philippines treaty of 1951 stipulating that Washington is bound to defend its ally.
The Philippines have expressed their “indignation“after the incident which they say occurred on Tuesday as Filipino boats sailed to Second Thomas Atoll in the Spratley Islands disputed by the two countries.
The resource-rich sea is under increasing tension this year after hundreds of Chinese vessels were spotted near the disputed Whitsun Reef, which is also in the Spratley Archipelago.
China claims almost the entire sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade pass each year. The area is also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
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