US says it stands with its Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order (File)
The United States on Friday warned China after a dispute in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines, saying it sided with Manila amid “a direct escalation that threatens regional peace and stability”.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said “legitimate activities of the Philippines in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone should not be interfered with”.
On Thursday, the Philippines condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the actions of three Chinese coast guard ships that it said intercepted and used water cannons on supply ships headed for an atoll. occupied by the Philippines in the South China Sea.
“The United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and reaffirms that an armed attack against Philippine official ships in the South China Sea would lead to U.S. mutual defense commitments,” Price said.
He added: “The United States strongly believes that the actions of the People’s Republic of China (People’s Republic of China) to assert its vast and unlawful sovereignty claims in the South China Sea undermine peace and harmony. peace and security in the region”.
The incident occurred as US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed a range of issues during a three-hour video call.
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