Washington DC [United States]: The United States voiced its support for the Philippines on Tuesday, condemning the hazardous manoeuvres conducted by Chinese vessels against Filipino ships and reaffirming its commitment to providing advisory assistance to modernise the Philippine military.
Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said, “What I would say is the Philippines remains the lead for its own operations in the South China Sea, and we continue to provide significant advisory support in addition to our efforts to help modernise the Philippine military.”
The remarks by Ryder came while addressing a press conference. Ryder further criticised China and said that it has been systematically obstructing the Philippines’ ability to conduct lawful maritime operations in the South China Sea.
“And so, as allies, we continue to stand with the Philippines, given especially the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has consistently prevented them from executing lawful maritime operations in the South China Sea,” Ryder said.
Expressing his commitment to the Philippines, Ryder added, “And so, our commitment to that alliance is ironclad. As you know, our governments have close continual consultation, so any military support would be at the request of the government of the Philippines. And in that light, Admiral Paparo simply called it an option within the context of consultations.”
Notably, a Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel, the ‘BRP Datu Sanday’ (MMOV 3002), encountered “aggressive and dangerous manoeuvres” from eight Chinese Coast Guard ships while operating from Hasa-Hasa Shoal to Escoda Shoal,” news outlet PNA reported.
Meanwhile, the Philippines’s Defence Secretary on Monday said that his country is focused on strengthening its military to deter armed attacks, local media reported, in the wake of the ramming incident in the disputed South China Sea of a Philippine vessel by Chinese ships.