The US says it supports its ally and condemns China’s “aggression”.
In the South China Sea, the security situation has tightened in recent days as Chinese and Philippine navy ships collided near the disputed Spratley group of islands.
According to the Philippines, the Chinese Coast Guard attacked three Filipino ships with water cannons on Sunday. One of the ships was also bumped on purpose, which caused an engine failure, the Philippine Coast Guard informs.
Two supply vessels operated by the Philippine Navy and a coast guard vessel assigned to escort them were harassed. The incident took place near the underwater Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
According to the Philippines, the country’s ships have also been disturbed on Saturday. China has so far not commented on the alleged clashes.
The dispute is feared to expand
The Filipino ships were delivering food and supplies to a small group of Filipino soldiers on Second Thomas Shoal. The station of these soldiers is an old military ship deliberately abandoned on the reef by the Filipinos in 1999.
According to China, the reef and the entire Spratley group of islands belong to its ownership. The country has been besieging Second Thomas Shoal for several years, making it difficult for the troops serving there to be supplied.
This year, there have been several incidents between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, raising concerns about the expansion of the territorial dispute.
The United States is the ally and president of the Philippines Joe Biden has publicly announced that American forces will defend the country if its forces are attacked.
– We stand together with Filipino friends, partners and allies in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, US Ambassador to the Philippines Mary Kay Carlson comment on the message service X.
Tensions between China and the Philippines are feared to worsen in the coming days. On Sunday, a convoy of about 40 Filipino fishing vessels is headed for the disputed Second Thomas Shoal and two other areas controlled by Philippine forces. The ships are escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard.
Source: AP