US stands with PH, calls out China for 'provocative and unsafe conduct' in South China Sea

The US said it is standing with the Philippines as it called out China for "its provocative and unsafe conduct" in the South China Sea.

"The United States stands with The Philippines in the face of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard’s continued infringement upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea," a press statement from the US State Department issued on Saturday (Sunday, PH time) read.

"Imagery and video recently published in the media is a stark reminder of PRC harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone," it added.

JUST IN: U.S. State Department urges Beijing to cease unsafe conduct in South China Sea, reaffirms mutual defense commitment to Philippine allies. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/39RDExsdUJ

— JP Soriano (@jpsoriano) April 29, 2023

"We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. The United States continues to track and monitor these interactions closely," the US State Department added.

"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 U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S. Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," the statement read.

A China Coast Guard ship cut off Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Malapascua on April 23 at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea, causing a near-collision.  

The incident was witnessed by a group of journalists on board another PCG vessel, the BRP Malabrigo.

US 'very concerned'

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview on Sunday, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said that the US is “very concerned” about China’s infringement in the Philippines’ territorial waters.

“They are concerned about it. Pero nasa sa atin ‘yan kung ano ang gusto nating sabihin sa Amerika dahil sinabi na nila [na] basta't kailangan niyo kami, sabihin lang ninyo at nandiyan na kami kaagad dahil talagang commitment namin 'yan sa aming Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said.

(They are concerned about it but it's up to us what we want to say to America. They have already told us that if you need us, just tell us and we'll be there immediately because that is our commitment in our Mutual Defense Treaty.)

“Mabigat ang sinabi ng US, at of course, ‘yung ginawa ng Tsina. Hindi maganda ‘yan. Alam nilang pupunta si Presidente dito, parang dinuduya nila,” he added.

(What the US said was heavy. And of course,  what China did [was also heavy]. That’s not good. They know that President [Marcos] is coming to the US. It seems they are taunting.)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is set to depart Manila for Washington, DC on Sunday afternoon.

He is scheduled to have a bilateral talk with US President Joe Biden on May 1 and an expanded meeting with other American officials, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tess Daza earlier said.

Australia reacts

Meanwhile, Australia also said it is concerned about the "unprofessional and dangerous conduct against the Philippines" in its territory.

"Concerned by further reports of unprofessional and dangerous conduct against the Philippines in its Exclusive Economic Zone. Australia reiterates our call for peace, stability and respect for UNCLOS in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway," Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu said Sunday in a statement sent to reporters.

Near collision

BRP Malapascua commanding officer Rodel Hernandez said of the April 23 incident: "We would have collided on the bow had I not cut the engine and thrown it in reverse."

China said the incident was caused by the PCG vessel's "premeditated and provocative action." 

"It was a premeditated and provocative action for the Philippine vessel to barge into the waters of Ren'ai Jiao with journalists on board, the aim was to deliberately find fault and take the opportunity to hype up the incident," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.

The PCG however said on Saturday that its maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) was “non-provocative”. 

“The routine, seven-day maritime patrol carried out by the PCG in the WPS from April 18–24 was non-provocative and did not undermine the interests of other states,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the WPS, said in a tweet. —with reports from Giselle Ombay and Michaela del Callar/KG, GMA Integrated News