US reiterates 'ironclad' commitment to Philippines amid China's show of force

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has reaffirmed its "ironclad" commitment to defending the Philippines after China's latest effort to assert its naval presence in the South China Sea, which encompasses the West Philippine Sea. 

In a phone call on Thursday, September 5, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin III discussed the "historic momentum in U.S.-Philippine defense ties" following the "productive" 2+2 ministerial dialogue between both countries in July. 

Austin reiterated Washington's commitment to its oldest treaty ally in the region amid "dangerous and escalatory actions" by China against "lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea," according to a readout by the US Department of Defense.

"Both officials discussed the importance of preserving the rights of all nations to fly, sail, and operate — safely and responsibly — wherever international law allows," the readout by US Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder read. 

In July, the Philippines hosted for the first time the 2+2 ministerial dialogue with the US, in which the US pledged an additional $500 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines. 

The US also vowed to double its investments in all Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites.  

Despite agreeing to de-escalate tensions in July, the Philippines and China have continued to be embroiled in a series of heated stand-offs in various parts of the West Philippine Sea in the past month, with most incidents taking place near Escoda Shoal.

The latest incident occurred August 31 after a Chinese Coast Guard vessel repeatedly rammed BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal, punching a man-sized hole on the vessel's hull. 

The incident prompted the US to condemn China's "dangerous and destabilizing conduct" in the region and reaffirmed its commitment to its 73 year-old Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines, which covers all attacks on any part of the South China Sea. 

China's show of force

Over 200 Chinese vessels were spotted crowding the West Philippine Sea from August 27 to September 2, the highest number recorded this year, according to the monitoring of the Philippine Navy.

The surge in Chinese vessels can be attributed to China's fixation on Escoda Shoal in the past month, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said.

China considers Escoda Shoal a part of its territory, in defiance of a 2016 Hague ruling invalidating its sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea. 

The feature is located 75 nautical miles from Palawan and deep within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

The US consistently backs the Philippines over its altercations with China, fueling concerns that the South China Sea could become the staging ground for a violent showdown between the two foreign powers.