President Biden Issues Strong Warning: US Commits to Defending the Philippines in the Event of an Attack by China

US President Joe Biden has issued a warning to China, emphasizing the United States’ commitment to defending the Philippines in the event of any aggression in the disputed South China Sea. This statement follows recent reports of two collisions involving Filipino and Chinese vessels in the contested waters.

The government in Manila has consistently challenged China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, even going so far as to deploy floating barriers and inviting media coverage to expose what it deems as Beijing’s provocative actions at sea.

Biden’s remarks on the South China Sea, made on a Wednesday, marked his most robust stance on the matter since tensions between Beijing and Manila escalated in recent months. The US President reiterated the “ironclad” nature of the defense commitment to the Philippines, emphasizing the enduring strength of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that binds the two nations. This treaty obliges the US and the Philippines, its former colony, to come to each other’s aid in the event of an armed attack.

Biden underlined, “Any attack on Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces will invoke our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines,” during a speech at the White House, where he welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In response, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, contended that the United States had no authority to meddle in the issues between China and the Philippines. She stressed that should the US choose to defend the Philippines, its actions must not compromise China’s sovereignty and maritime interests in the South China Sea.

The recent incidents that intensified tensions included a collision between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Filipino supply boat in an area within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Additionally, Manila reported a separate incident in which a Chinese militia boat made contact with a Philippine coast guard vessel. These encounters occurred as Filipino boats were en route to a stranded navy warship at the Second Thomas Shoal to reinforce territorial claims.

The Philippines’ defense minister, Gilberto Teodoro Jr., accused the Chinese vessels of deliberately striking Philippine ships and criticized China for distorting the facts to suit its objectives.

The Philippines holds strategic importance for the United States due to its proximity to two potential flashpoints in the Pacific region – the South China Sea and Taiwan. This underscores the significance of the US commitment to safeguarding its ally in the region.