US warns China it is committed to defending the Philippines amid tensions in the South China Sea

(CNN) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to defend the Philippine armed forces from any attack in the South China Sea, under a mutual defense treaty signed 70 years ago. .

Blinken made the remarks Sunday, in a statement to mark the fifth anniversary of an independent arbitration tribunal’s ruling that rejected China’s broad territorial claims on the seaway, siding with the Philippines.

Tensions in the South China Sea, also disputed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, have risen this year, with Manila accusing Beijing of trying to intimidate its coastguard ships, as well as sending in its so-called “maritime militia.” to displace Philippine fishing boats.

The head of US diplomacy said the US could invoke the mutual defense pact between his country and the Philippines in the event of any Chinese military action against Filipino assets in the region.

“We also reaffirm that an attack against the Philippine armed forces, civilian vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the US Mutual Defense Treaty. and the Philippines of 1951, “Blinken said.

Blinken also called on the Chinese government to “comply with its obligations under international law (and) cease its provocative behavior” in the South China Sea.

What does the Hague ruling say?

The 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague flatly rejected China’s claims on the South China Sea, while making it clear that China was infringing on Philippine sovereignty with activities such as building islands in the area. exclusive economy of the Philippines.

Beijing has overruled the court’s ruling and continued to build up and militarily strengthen its positions in the South China Sea. He claims that the United States and other countries are increasing tensions in the region by sending their warships there in violation of their sovereignty.

Washington replies that its naval presence in the South China Sea supports freedom of navigation under international maritime law.

Underscoring the US position, the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold conducted a Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) on Monday near the Paracelsus Islands in the northwestern South China Sea, according to reported the Seventh Fleet of the US Navy in a statement.

Tension around the Paracelsus Islands

These islands, referred to as the Xisha chain in China, are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, but have been controlled by China since the 1970s.

US Navy spokesman Lt. Mark Langford said Monday’s operation challenged claims by all three parties.

“This freedom of navigation operation (…) defended the rights, freedoms and legitimate uses of the sea recognized in international law, challenging the illegal restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, and also challenging the claim China from the baselines of the strait that enclose the Paracelsus Islands, “said Langford.

China said it had deployed forces to “warn and drive away” the US destroyer, which it said violated its sovereignty.

The last time the US challenged the claims on the Paracelsus was in May.

“This is another irrefutable proof of the aggressive hegemony of shipping and the militarization of the South China Sea by the United States,” said China People’s Liberation Army Air Force Colonel Tian Junli, spokesman for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. South Theater of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, following Monday’s FONOP.

Beijing continues to “bully” in South China Sea, says Blinken

The facts show that the United States is a “creator of security risks in the South China Sea,” Tian said.

In its statement on Sunday, Blinken called on China to “take steps to assure the international community that it is committed to a rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, large and small.”

“Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order more threatened than in the South China Sea. The People’s Republic of China continues to coerce and intimidate the coastal states of Southeast Asia, threatening the freedom of navigation on this critical world lane,” he said Blinken, referring to China by its official name.

He called on China to “take steps to assure the international community that it is committed to a rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, large and small.”

Blinken said the US supports the 2016 ruling against China, as reiterated last year by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who said at the time that “Beijing’s claims on maritime resources in most of the South China Sea they are completely illegal, as is his intimidation campaign to control them. “

In response to Pompeo’s comments, the Chinese embassy in Washington at the time accused the US of “distorting” international law and “exaggerating” the situation to “sow discord.”