Anger between Filipino and Chinese coast guards over the South China Sea conflict has escalated, prompting Secretary of State Antony Blinken to stress Washington’s resolve to protect the Philippines in case its soldiers are attacked.
Concerns over North Korea’s nuclear program and China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea will be discussed in a summit at the White House in April, hosted by President Joe Biden and attended by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Marcos.
A recent incident at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal saw the Chinese Coast Guard forcefully block Philippine warships and use water cannons. Four sailors and an admiral from the Philippines were injured. To voice their disapproval of the Chinese coast guard’s behavior, which the Philippines found unacceptable, the Manila Department of Foreign Affairs summoned the deputy ambassador of China.
In reaction to Philippine ships being in the area around Ren’ai Reef, also known as Second Thomas Shoal in Beijing, the Chinese coast guard took the appropriate actions. Officials in the Philippines, however, are pretty worried about the latest conflict, which resulted in severe casualties to Filipino navy men and damaged their ships.
Blinken and Manalo were both pleased with the development of their nations’ treaty relationship and acknowledged that it might be much better. They made clear that there was room for improvement and that the goal of the initiatives to fortify defense relationships was not to single out any one nation.
Concerned that Marcos’s decision to allow the growth of American military presence in the Philippines through a defense treaty in 2014 may threaten the security of China and the surrounding area, Beijing has constantly voiced its worries about the matter.
In April, the US and the Philippines will hold their most extensive annual combat drills.
Along with China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei claim the resource-rich and bustling canal, which is a significant worldwide commerce route.
Washington has fortified its security connections and military alliances in the Indo-Pacific area in response. This includes enhancing ties with Vietnam, the Philippines, and other nations that have disputes with China over the contested sea.
