US voices 'ironclad' support for Philippines after ships collide in South China Sea

Beijing and Manila trade blame over Sunday's incidents near Second Thomas Shoal

A Chinese coastguard ship, left, with a Chinese militia vessel, right, block a Philippine coastguard ship as it tries to head towards Second Thomas Shoal. AP

The US reiterated its support for the Philippines on Monday after the South-East Asian country accused China's coastguard of obstructing a resupply mission.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and his Philippine counterpart Eduardo M Ano spoke following two collisions on Sunday near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

“Mr Sullivan emphasised the ironclad US alliance commitments to the Philippines under the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces – to include those of its coastguard – in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea,” a readout of the call said.

Beijing and Manila have traded blame over Sunday's incidents near the atoll, part of the Spratly Islands, with both sides releasing videos to support their accusations.

The collisions occurred during a routine resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed on a navy vessel, the BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded on the shoal to assert Manila's territorial claims.

The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded the Second World War-era BRP Sierra Madre there in 1999 to check China's advance in the area, and the troops stationed depend on regular supply deliveries.

The Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador on Monday to address the issue, publicly blaming Beijing for the maritime collision and calling on China to stop aggressive maritime acts in the area.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry official, meanwhile, said that a Philippine boat had intruded into Chinese waters, news agency Nikkei reported.

The US called the actions by the Chinese coastguard and maritime militia “dangerous and unlawful”.

China and the Philippines have been butting heads in the Pacific in recent years, as Beijing works to assert dominance in the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually.

Despite an international court ruling to the contrary, China has made sweeping claims of sovereignty over the maritime region.