US airs support for PH after water cannon attack, tells China to heed ruling

A RED LINE To slip past water cannon attacks and blocking maneuvers of Chinese ships, last
seen during the incident in Ayungin Shoal, the Philippine military will focus on
speed and maneuverability in its future missions to its outpost there, the BRP Sierra Madre,
according to Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, chief of the Western Command. —VIDEO GRAB FROM PCG

MANILA, Philippines — The United States (US) on Sunday condemned what it called “dangerous actions” recently committed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against Philippine maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea.

US called on China to abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling.

The US Department of State issued the statement after the China Coast Guard fired water cannons at a Philippine supply vessel on its way to Ayungin Shoal for a rotation and resupply mission on Saturday.

READ: PH vessel sustains ‘heavy damage’ in Chinese coast guard attack

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the supply vessel sustained  “heavy damage,” while some Filipino service members incurred injuries due to the continued blasting from the Chinese vessels.

“The PRC’s actions prevent normal personnel rotations and deprive Filipino service members at Second Thomas Shoal of necessary provisions. This incident marks only the latest in the PRC’s repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and disruption of supply lines to this long standing outpost,” US said.

“The PRC’s actions are destabilizing to the region and show clear disregard for international law,” it added, referring to the international tribunal’s legally binding decision issued in July 2016.

The decision stated that China has “no lawful maritime claims to the waters around Second Thomas Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal is a low tide feature clearly within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.”

The US also called upon China to abide by this ruling and “desist from its dangerous and destabilizing conduct.”

“The United States reaffirms Article IV of the 1951 U.S. – Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (that) extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea,” it added.