New tension. Washington reaffirms support for Manila in the face of Beijing's moves in the South China Sea
The US State Department said in a tweet that it stands with the Philippines in the face of China's dangerous moves in the South China Sea, as Manila accused the Chinese coast guard of firing water cannons at its boats.
A Philippine Coast Guard statement on Sunday strongly condemned "the Chinese Coast Guard's dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against Philippine Coast Guard vessels."
The incident occurred yesterday when Philippine Coast Guard boats escorted ships carrying supplies for Filipino soldiers stationed in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
China claims almost complete sovereignty over the sea, which is a trade corridor for trillions of dollars worth of goods annually, amid competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Beijing has ignored a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of International Arbitration in The Hague that China's historical claim to most of the sea is unfounded.
Disagreement and tension
China is also expanding its presence and influence in all areas of the South China Sea, including waters opposite and close to Philippine territory. Beijing has established military bases on areas rich in coral reefs that are disputed with the Philippines.
The Philippines believes that China wants to dominate all the waters of the South China Sea without granting any rights to the other countries bordering it, but the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016, and China rejected the ruling confirming the Philippines' right to these areas.
Due to the unresolved dispute between the two countries, fishing vessels and Philippine Coast Guard ships are constantly harassed by Chinese military vessels deployed in the area.
Against the backdrop of a strained relationship with China, the Philippines' relations with the United States have been warming and strategic under the leadership of President Marcos Junior, who made a historic visit to Washington, D.C., in May.
President Marcos sought assurance that the United States had his back in any open confrontation with China. Indeed, the White House declared that America's commitment to the defense of the Philippines was "firm."
Agreement and accusation
China has previously accused the United States of threatening regional peace and stability, following the signing of a new agreement between the Philippines and the United States in April that allows the latter to use four additional military bases in the Philippines.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that out of self-interest, the United States continues to strengthen its military deployment in the region, emphasizing that the result will inevitably increase military tension and threaten regional peace and stability.
Washington and Manila have been allies for decades. A 2014 defense treaty, known as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, allows US forces to use five Philippine bases and store military equipment and materials there. The number of these bases was increased to nine in February, but the locations of the four additional bases were not specified.
Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies
