The United States on Saturday urged China to stop harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea after a tense encounter between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine patrol ship in the disputed waters.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the incident in the Ayungin Shoal—also known as the Second Thomas Shoal—was a “stark reminder” of China’s “harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels” in the disputed waters.
“We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. The United States continues to track and monitor these interactions closely,” Miller said in a statement.
He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to supporting the Philippines in the South China Sea and said that any armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft would invoke its mutual defense treaty….