In a robust declaration and without mincing words, President Joe Biden has put China on notice, affirming the United States’ commitment to defending the Philippines in the event of an attack in the disputed South China Sea.
The statement follows closely on the heels of two recent collisions involving Filipino and Chinese vessels within the contested waters, even as each side scrambles to show the ‘true picture’ of the events.
President Biden emphasized the “ironclad” nature of the United States defence commitment to the Philippines, while the Philippines has been challenging China’s claims to these waters, actively countering Chinese actions and inviting media coverage to document what it perceives as Beijing’s dangerous manoeuvres at sea.
Biden’s statement, issued on Wednesday, represents the most forceful stance taken by the United States regarding the tensions between Beijing and Manila that have intensified in recent months.
The President underlined the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, binding the U.S. and its former colony, the Philippines, to mutual defense in the event of an armed attack.
He explicitly stated, “Any attack on Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces will invoke our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines.” These remarks were delivered at the White House during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Ships At War
The Philippines reported two incidents in the South China Sea, one involving a collision between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Filipino supply boat, and another where a Chinese militia boat reportedly “bumped” a Philippine coast guard vessel.
Both of these incidents occurred within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and were related to reinforcing the Philippines’ territorial claims.
The Philippines’ Defense Minister, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, accused China of intentionally hitting Philippine vessels and distorting the narrative to suit its objectives. President Biden also echoed these concerns, asserting that the Chinese vessels had acted unlawfully and dangerously during the collisions.
The United States Aim
The Philippines holds strategic importance for the United States, as it shares borders with two potential flashpoints in the Pacific – the South China Sea and Taiwan.
Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assumed office in June 2022, the Philippines has taken a more assertive stance against China’s actions in the South China Sea, reversing the pro-China policies of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
Under Duterte’s leadership, the Philippines refrained from invoking a legal victory against China in an international tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. However, with the change in leadership, the Philippines has embarked on a new, more assertive approach to contesting China’s actions in the region.
What Is The Rift About?
The ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China over submerged shoals in the South China Sea have escalated in recent months, with confrontations now taking place in full view of the media. This shift in strategy, termed an “assertive transparency campaign,” has exposed China’s actions in the South China Sea to the world.
The Philippines has actively shared video footage of these encounters with local media and allowed journalists to document events in disputed waters; this approach has seemingly caught China off guard and temporarily reduced its activities in the area.
China has been playing a long game, permitting resupply runs to the Philippines’ outpost on Second Thomas Shoal when relations were favourable and blocking them during times of tension.
However, China’s assessment is that the aging ship, Sierra Madre, situated on the reef, cannot endure indefinitely, and the Philippines will eventually need to evacuate its marines as the ship deteriorates.
The Philippines has recently been conducting resupply runs to Sierra Madre, and sources suggest they have been shipping construction materials to reinforce the ship, indicating a sense of urgency in maintaining their presence on Ayungin Shoal.
The Philippines’ shift in foreign policy and assertiveness in defending its territorial claims has raised questions about what may happen if the Sierra Madre does ultimately collapse into the South China Sea.
The situation could lead to further tensions and potential conflict between the Philippines, China, and the United States, the outcome remains uncertain, but the day of reckoning may be approaching rapidly.
The Last Bit,
President Biden’s unwavering commitment to the Philippines in the face of potential conflict in the South China Sea marks a significant shift in the geopolitical of the region.
It symbolises the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines, dating back to 1951; however, as tensions continue to rise and Manila takes a bolder stance in contesting China’s territorial claims, the potential for further confrontations looms large.
The fate of the aging Sierra Madre, a symbol of the Philippines’ determination, may well serve as a flashpoint for future events in this critical maritime area.
The South China Sea remains a complex puzzle with no easy solutions, and the world watches with bated breath as these events unfold.
