The United States has strongly condemned China following a maritime confrontation with the Philippines near the disputed islands in the South China Sea. According to a statement released by the U.S. State Department on Monday, Washington criticized Beijing’s actions on October 12, which involved Chinese vessels “ramming and using water cannons” against a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship operating near Thitu Island.
The incident has heightened tensions in one of the world’s most contested waterways, where several nations — including the Philippines, China, Vietnam, and Malaysia — assert overlapping territorial claims. The Philippines accused China of aggressive behavior, while Beijing blamed Manila for what it called “provocations” within what it claims as its territorial waters. Thitu Island, known locally as Pag-asa Island, is part of the Spratly Islands and has long been a flashpoint in the ongoing South China Sea dispute.
In its statement, the U.S. reiterated its commitment to defending its ally under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, emphasizing that “an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. defense commitments.” The U.S. also urged China to cease its “dangerous and destabilizing” actions, which threaten freedom of navigation and regional peace.
The confrontation adds to a series of maritime clashes between China and the Philippines over the past year, underscoring growing concerns over Beijing’s expanding influence in the South China Sea. The U.S. reaffirmed that it “stands with its Philippine allies” as tensions continue to rise in the strategic region.