US calls out China for 'reckless' acts vs PH vessels, renews commitment to defend ally

The Chinese vessels’ latest water cannon attacks against Philippine vessels on separate resupply missions in the Ayungin Shoal and Scarborough Shoal were a “reckless disregard” for the Filipinos’ safety and livelihoods, and for international law, the US State Department said Monday.

In a statement, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stressed that the US stands with the Philippines amid the attacks which he called “dangerous and unlawful.”

“By impeding the safe operations of Philippine vessels carrying provisions to Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC interfered in lawful Philippine maritime operations and in Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation.  Obstructing supply lines to this longstanding outpost and interfering with lawful Philippines maritime operations undermines regional stability,” he said.

The China Coast Guard’s (CCG) on Sunday water cannoned Philippine vessels on a routine resupply and rotation mission to the BRP Sierra Madre stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

It caused severe damage to M/L Kalayaan’s engines and damage to BRP Cabra’s mast, and endangered the lives of the crew.

The CCG on Saturday also fired a water cannon at the vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) headed to Scarborough Shoal to distribute oil and other supplies to fisherfolk in the area.

Miller said these actions reflect not only reckless disregard for the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos, but also for international law.

"As reflected in an international tribunal’s legally binding decision issued in July 2016, the PRC has no lawful maritime claims to the waters around Second Thomas Shoal, and Filipinos are entitled to traditional fishing rights around Scarborough Reef," he said.

With these, Miller reaffirmed that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) extends to “armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.”

The US said it is within its national interest to maintain unfettered access to South China Sea’s strategic sealanes and airspace.

"The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of these dangerous and unlawful actions," said Miller.

"We reaffirm that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea."

The MDT, a 1951 defense pact signed between Manila and Washington, binds the two allies to come to each other’s aid from aggression and help defend the other party.

China claims the South China Sea nearly in its entirety, but an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands upheld Philippine sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone and invalidated China’s expansive territorial claims in the disputed waters.

 "As provided under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the 2016 arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines, and the United States calls upon the PRC to abide by the ruling and desist from its dangerous and destabilizing conduct," Miller said.—Giselle Ombay and Michaela del Callar/AOL, GMA Integrated News