The US military is considering escorting Philippine ships in the South China Sea amid heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over disputed waters.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said the decision would depend on consultations under the 1951 mutual defence treaty between the allies.
The Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia vessels have frequently clashed with Philippine ships as they attempt to resupply Filipino sailors stationed on remote islands claimed by both countries.
Incidents between the Philippines and China have escalated, and the Philippine government is considering whether to consider invoking its alliance treaty with Washington.
Aaron Favila/AP
Paparo was speaking at an international military conference in Manila hosted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, alongside Philippine Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Paparo said he was open to the idea of escorting Philippine ships, saying: “Certainly, within the framework of consultations.”
“Every option between the two sovereign nations in terms of mutual defense, escorting from ship to ship, is a perfectly reasonable option within the framework of our mutual defense treaty, within the framework of this close alliance between the two of us.”
The move could conflict with Philippine laws, including the constitutional ban on foreign forces participating in local combat operations.
“The attitude of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is that we have to rely on ourselves first,” Brawner said.
“We’re going to try every option, every avenue that’s available to us to accomplish the mission… in this case, resupplying and rotating our troops.”
“We will then look for other options when we are already forced to do it ourselves,” Brawner said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said there is no current situation that would warrant activating the treaty, which commits allies to help each other in the event of an attack.
President Joe Biden and his administration have repeatedly renewed their “ironclad” commitment to help defend the Philippines under the 1951 treaty if Philippine forces, ships and aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. told the conference that China was “the biggest disruptor” of peace in Southeast Asia.
Teodoro later told reporters on the sidelines of the conference that international statements expressing concern over China’s actions were “not enough.”
“The antidote is stronger collective multilateral action against China,” Teodoro said, adding that a U.N. Security Council resolution would be a strong step, but unlikely given China’s veto in the Security Council.
He also called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to do more.
“ASEAN, to remain relevant and credible, cannot continue to ignore what China is doing in the South China Sea,” Teodoro said.
In the latest incident on Monday, China reportedly deployed 40 ships to prevent two Philippine vessels from delivering supplies to a coast guard ship at Sabina Shoal, a disputed atoll in the Spratlys.
This is the third maritime confrontation between the two nations in a week.
Both nations blame each other for the confrontation.
The Philippine Coast Guard condemned the action and urged China to respect international law.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that “the label of undermining peace can never be stuck on China,” accusing other unspecified actors of “committing violations and provocations in the South China Sea and introducing external forces to undermine the overall picture of regional peace and stability.”
