THREE United States Republican senators urged President Biden to increase support to the Philippines following two incidents of collision between Philippines and China vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
This came a day after Biden warned China against making “dangerous and unlawful” maneuvers in the South China Sea , stressing that it has an “iron-clad” commitment to help the Philippines when attacked in the disputed territory.
“The Secretaries reaffirmed that the MDT extends to both countries’ public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—to include the Coast Guard—anywhere in the Pacific to include the South China Sea ,” the joint statement read. The two also discussed China’s “dangerous and unlawful maneuvers that caused collisions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships” and put the safety of Filipino crew members and their vessels at risk.The senators listed a number of harassment the Chinese Coast Guard and its maritime militia have been consistently doing against Philippine naval assets in the WPS since August 2023.
“China is on the verge of willfully triggering a humanitarian crisis by blocking the resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre. Its actions will eventually starve Filipino sailors on the vessel. China’s main purpose, of course, is to force the Philippines to abandon Second Thomas Shoal and take de facto control of this territorial feature,” the lawmakers said.
If the Biden administration fails to take action, “potentially,” China would be emboldened further to make “adverse actions,” they argued.
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