Joe Biden has threatened China, declaring the United States would go to war with them to defend the Philippines.
The news comes after Chinese vessel vessels in the Scarborough Shoal area of the South China Sea rammed a Philippines coast guard ship and supply boat.
Recently, Chinese seacrafts collided with Philippine boats on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine navy ship, on Second Thomas Shoal.
Ayungin Shoal is an atoll in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea, 105 nautical miles west of Palawan, Philippines.
Located in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, Atoll is currently militarily occupied by the Philippines.
On Sunday, a China Coast Guard vessel, 5203 (CCGV 5203), engaged in dangerous blocking maneuvers, resulting in a collision with the Philippine indigenous resupply boat named Unaiza May 2 (UM2).
During the same resupply mission, the Philippine Coast Guard vessel MRRV 4409 was bumped by the Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003) while approximately 6.4NM Northeast of Ayungin Shoal.
China’s increasing military aggression in the region is drawing international concern.
Biden’s recent statement has now signaled a massive escalation on the part of the United States.
During a White House press conference, Biden pledged military support to defend the Philippines, threatening to go to war with China.
“Just this past week, the [People’s Republic of China] vessels acted as dangerously and unlawfully as our Philippine friends conducted a routine resupply mission within their own exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea,” said Biden.
“I want to be clear. I want to be very clear. The United States’ defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad. Any attack on the Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces will invoke our mutual defense treaty with the Philippines,” he said.
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BREAKING: Biden vows to go to war against China to defend The Philippines after The Philippines coast guard ship and supply boat were rammed by Chinese vessels at disputed Shoal in the South China Sea. Be ready boys the draft is about to kick in. #War pic.twitter.com/wnGNrWIezZ
— JayBrandon 🇺🇸 (@jaybrandon4981) October 27, 2023
Biden invoked the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense agreement, which commits both the United States and the Philippines to defend against external military aggression.
Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty states that:
Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Security Council of the United Nations. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.
An armed attack on either of the parties includes:
- An armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the parties.
- An armed attack on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific.
- An armed attack on its armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific.
- The treaty recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety.
“The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard and maritime militia’s dangerous and unlawful actions obstructing an October 22 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea,” the US Department of States said in a statement.
“Second Thomas Shoal is a feature well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone and on the Philippine continental shelf. An international tribunal’s July 2016 decision – legally binding on both the Philippines and PRC – made clear that “there exists no legal basis for any entitlement by China to maritime zones in the area of Second Thomas Shoal.”
As The Gateway Pundit notes, The same ruling affirmed that Second Thomas Shoal is a low-tide elevation outside the territorial sea of another high tide feature – as such, the PRC’s territorial claims to it are unfounded.
“The unsafe maneuvers on October 22 and the PRC water cannoning of a Philippines’ vessel on August 5 are the latest examples of provocative PRC measures in the South China Sea to enforce its expansive and unlawful maritime claims, reflecting disregard for other states lawfully operating in the region.
“The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea,” the statement concluded.
China responded to Biden’s statement, saying the United States has no right to interfere in matters between China and the Philippines.
“The US defense commitment to the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in South China Sea, nor should it support the illegal claims of the Philippines,” Mao told the AFP.
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