The United States has reiterated its support for the Philippines following the incidents in the South China Sea with the Chinese Coast Guard and called on China to stop harassing Philippine ships in the contested waters.
The US State Department issued a statement on Saturday following the latest incident between China and the Philippines in the contested South China Sea, as reported by its coast guard last Friday. Manila accused the Chinese Coast Guard of using "aggressive tactics" during a patrol by the Philippine Coast Guard close to the Philippine-controlled Second Thomas Shoal. The Chinese foreign ministry said on the same day that the Philippine vessels intruded into Chinese territorial waters to justify its coast guard's actions.
"We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," said the statement by Washington, adding that the US "stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order."
China claims control over the majority of the South China Sea, which has angered neighboring countries with overlapping claims in the waters. Beijing has continued to assert its historical control over the major waterway by building artificial islands to build military outposts. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, saying that China's claims have no basis in international law. Washington has come out in support of the neighboring countries.
Beijing responded to the US statement on Sunday, saying that it was willing to discuss maritime differences with the countries concerned in the waters but warned Washington against interfering.
On Friday, Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said regarding the latest incident that China interfered with the routine patrol and called on Beijing to "refrain from actions that may cause an untoward incident." The incident also took place at a time when Chinese foreign ministry Qin Gang visited Manila and met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Second Thomas Shoal is deemed a flashpoint for such altercations between Chinese and Philippine vessels and crew. The Shoal, known locally as Ayungin, has a World War II-era US ship that was purposely grounded to reinforce the Philippines' territorial claims.