The U.S. has warned China that it will honor a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and defend Philippine forces, ships and aircraft if they come under armed attack, even “those of its coast guard — anywhere in the South China Sea.” The warning comes after Chinese Coast Guard ships blocked and collided with Filipino ships carrying supplies to the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on Sunday. After Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held an emergency meeting with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and other top military and security officials, Teodoro blasted China’s actions during a news conference. He said, “The Philippine government views the latest aggression by China as a blatant violation of international law. China has no legal right or authority to conduct law enforcement operations in our territorial waters and in our exclusive economic zone.” Teodoro added, “We are taking these incidents seriously at the highest levels of government.”
