South China Sea: US warns China it will fight for the Philippines

The US made the warning as Beijing boasted it had chased away an America warship from islands that it claims in the South China Sea.

The United States warned that it would defend the Philippines against any attack as Beijing boasted that it had chased away a US warship from islands that it claims in the South China Sea.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, gave the warning on the fifth anniversary of an international court ruling that dismissed Chinese claims to ownership of the South China Sea. It was issued as a naval destroyer, the USS Benfold, sailed close to the Paracel Islands, in a symbolic rejection of Beijing’s claim to sovereignty.

“The People’s Republic of China continues to coerce and intimidate southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway,” Blinken said.

“We call on the PRC to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behaviour and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small.”

He added: “We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defence commitments under . . . the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.”

The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) conducting underway operations in the South China Sea. Picture: AFP.

The US challenges China’s claims by regularly sending naval ships on what it calls “freedom of navigation operations” intended to assert the right of free passage in international waters.

Yesterday’s appearance by the Benfold drew an angry reaction from Beijing. “The US military’s actions have seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea region, and severely violated international law and the norms of international relations,” a statement by People’s Liberation Army said.

“We urge the US to immediately stop such provocative actions and strictly control maritime and air military activities, or the US will bear all consequences.”

The US navy said: “Under international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention, the ships of all states, including their warships, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.

“By conducting this operation, the United States demonstrated that these waters are beyond what China can lawfully claim as its territorial sea, and . . . are inconsistent with international law.”

Chinese missile frigate Yuncheng launches an anti-ship missile during a military exercise in waters near the Paracel Islands. Picture: AFP.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim some of the hundreds of reefs and small islands, but since 2014 Beijing has strengthened its claim to virtually the entire sea by concreting over reefs to build military airports.

International trade worth dollars 5 trillion passes by ship every year through the South China Sea, including the oil that fuels the economies of China, Japan and South Korea. In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague struck down China’s claims to rocks and reefs close to the Philippines, but Beijing continues to reject any challenges to its sovereignty.

During the coronavirus pandemic China has also announced new “research stations” on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef, tiny geographical features that it has transformed into stationary aircraft carriers. Satellite photographs show that the People’s Liberation Army has built runways and radar and can now deploy offensive weapons such as combat aircraft and mobile missile launchers.

Liz Derr, head of Simularity Inc, a US software company creating artificial intelligence technologies for satellite imagery analysis, said yesterday (Monday) that Chinese vessels anchored in the South China Sea had dumped human waste and wastewater for years, causing algae blooms that had damaged coral reefs and threatened fish.

Chinese officials did not immediately react, but have said in the past that they have taken steps to protect the fisheries stock in the South China Sea.

The Times