Philippine Marines during a flag ceremony aboard the grounded BRP Sierra Madre | Photo via Philippine Navy
NEW YORK — The U.S. State Department issued a statement condemning the “escalatory and irresponsible actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to deny the Philippines from lawfully delivering humanitarian supplies to service members stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre on June 16.”
“PRC vessels’ dangerous and deliberate use of water cannons, ramming, blocking maneuvers, and towing damaged Philippine vessels, endangered the lives of Philippine service members, is reckless, and threatens regional peace and stability,” said Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesperson.
The June 16 incident is the latest PRC provocations to impede critically needed supplies from reaching the BRP Sierra Madre stationed in the West Philippine Sea. On May 19, the PRC Coast Guard harassed Filipino soldiers who were being medically evacuated and unlawfully seized airdropped provisions. On numerous occasions in 2023, the PRC Coast Guard also used water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against the Philippine routine supply missions.
“Beijing’s actions reflect consistent disregard for the afety of Filipinos and for international law in the South China Sea.” the statement said.
The U.S. State Department also recalled the decision of the International Tribunal in July 2016, which concluded that “PRC has no lawful maritime claims to the waters around Second Thomas Shoal — a low-tide feature clearly within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. “As provided under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines,” the statement said.
“The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 United States-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.”
Before the statement was issued, U.S. Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell and the Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Maria Theresa Lazaro, discussed the June 17 incident. The PRC obstructed the Philippines from executing a lawful maritime operation in South China, interfering with the Philippines’ freedom of navigation. The Deputy Secretary and Undersecretary agreed that the PRC’s dangerous actions threatened regional peace and stability.
They reiterated the critical importance of the U.S.-Philippines alliance in maintaining the shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
