By Gabriela Baron
The United States (US) prodded China on Sunday, April 30, to stop its “provocative and unsafe conduct” against Philippine vessels.
This after a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship cut off BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo while approaching Ayungin Shoal.
“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 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” US State Department said in a statement
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier reported that CCG vessels “carried out dangerous maneuvers” near BRP Malapascua.
The DFA also called on China to respect the Philippines’ rights over the West Philippine Sea as provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard also identified over 100 alleged Chinese maritime militia ships, a People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette class, and two CCG vessels during its April 18 to April 24 patrol mission in the West Philippine Sea.
READ MORE: DFA: China’s interference with PH patrol ‘inconsistent with freedom of navigation’
The US State Department statement came before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s official visit to the US where he is expected to hold bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden. – cf