JAKARTA - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated United States support for Manila, saying the damage to Philippine ships and injuries to crew members in the South China Sea constitute irresponsible behavior that ignores international law.
Manila and Beijing were again involved in a confrontation in the South China Sea, precisely in disputed Scarborough shallow waters on Tuesday, where Chinese coast guard used water cannons on two ships from the Philippines.
Two Philippine ships were damaged by the use of water cannons late last month, while at least four crew members were injured in a similar incident in March.
"We are very clear to everyone, including Beijing, the behavior we have seen, where Filipino crew members are in danger of injured sailors and property damaged, it is irresponsible behavior," Defense Secretary Austin said in a joint press statement in Hawaii.
Defense Minister Austin further reiterated that Washington will continue to support Manila as outlined in the 1951 Joint Defense Treaty.
"Our commitment to this agreement is very strong and we support the Philippines," he said after a meeting with the Philippine, Australian and Japanese Defense Ministers.
The agreement binds the two countries to defend each other in the event of an attack, including in the South China Sea, thereby increasing the stakes in the long-running power struggle, with China affirming its territorial claim to most of the major global trade waterways.
Meanwhile, Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro said the two countries were committed to building capacity and prevention to ensure no situation required the agreement to be enforced.
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"We need to emphasize our rights but in a way that maintains the safety of every member of the Philippine armed forces," he added.
It is known that Scarborough Shoal, the main fishing spot used by several countries, has been occupied by China for more than a decade and has been the point of conflict between the Philippines and China for years.
China this week accused the Philippines of adding and warning the country not to challenge its determination to defend its sovereignty.
I met with Secretary Teodoro, my counterpart from the Philippines, in Honolulu to discuss how the United States will continue to stand with the Philippines. I’ve said many times that our two countries are more than allies – we’re family. pic.twitter.com/7djLUW4kLl
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) May 3, 2024
I met with Secretary Teodoro, my counterpart from the Philippines, in Honolulu to discuss how the United States will continue to stand with the Philippines. I've said many times that our two countries are more than allies re family. pic.twitter.com/7djLUW4kLll
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