South China Sea: US backs Philippines' call for China to 'respect international law' in contested waters

In 2016, an international tribunal ruled against China’s so-called historic claims over the South China Sea. The US has backed the Philippines’ call for Beijing to cease making provocative moves in the contested waters.

The US State Department said Friday last week that it supports the call by the Philippines for China to end its provocative actions in the South China Sea. This follows the new diplomatic complaints filed by the Philippines against Beijing’s maritime activities within Manila’s exclusive economic zone or EEZ.

The State Department said it shared the same concerns with the Philippines regarding China’s activities in the contested waters. Beijing claims sovereignty over the majority of the body of water which has been rejected by an international hearing. China’s claims also overlap with territorial claims by the surrounding countries, including Taiwan, over parts of the waters.

“These actions are part of a broader trend of PRC (People’s Republic of China) provocations against South China Sea claimants and other states lawfully operating in the region,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

In the diplomatic complaint, the Philippines also accused China of illegally fishing in its territorial waters, with Chinese coast guards following Philippine vessels on resupply missions. This is the latest set of over 300 complaints against China’s activities in the South China Sea.

The Philippine foreign ministry filed a diplomatic protest against China’s activities early this month.

“China has no right to fish, monitor, or interfere with the Philippines’ legitimate activities therein,” said the ministry, citing that the latest incidents took place in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, both claimed by China and the Philippines. The shoal is located 105 nautical miles or 195 kilometers off the Philippines’ Palawan province.

In November last year, a resupply mission by Philippine ships was shut down after three Chinese coast guard vessels blocked the ships and used water cannons on the resupply boats.

Ships and aircraft from other countries passing through the South China Sea have often drawn the ire of Beijing. Earlier this month, Beijing said the presence of Australian military aircraft over the contested waters threatened its sovereignty.

The Australian defense ministry said a Chinese fighter jet intercepted its military surveillance plane back in May.