US condemns China's 'dangerous actions' against Philippine vessels

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Monday condemned the "dangerous actions" by China against Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea.

Chinese ships "employed reckless maneuvers, deliberately colliding with two Philippine Coast Guard ships, causing structural damage and jeopardizing the safety of the crews onboard," the State Department said in a statement.

These actions are the latest examples of China using "dangerous and escalatory" measures to enforce its "expansive and unlawful" South China Sea maritime claims, it said, calling on Beijing to abide by international law.

"The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea," it added.

The Philippines on Monday alleged that two of its coast guard ships were damaged in separate collisions with Chinese vessels that were conducting "unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres" near a disputed South China Sea reef.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement that the first collision occurred near Sabina Shoal, "causing structural damage to both Philippine Coast Guard vessels," the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

A second Philippine Coast Guard ship was "rammed twice" on both sides by a China Coast Guard vessel some 39 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Sabina.

The ship suffered "minor structural damage."

The ships were tasked with resupplying personnel deployed on Patag and Lawak Islands.

The crews remained unhurt in both collisions, according to the report.

Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, including Sabina Shoal, located 140 kilometers (87 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan.