The United States has renewed a warning that it would defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack after Chinese ships blocked and collided with two Filipino vessels in the South China Sea.

The United States renewed a warning Monday that it would defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack under a 1951 treaty, after Chinese ships blocked and collided with two Filipino vessels off a contested shoal in the South China Sea.

Philippine diplomats summoned a Chinese Embassy official in Manila on Monday for a strongly worded protest following Sunday’s collisions off Second Thomas Shoal. No injuries were reported but the encounters damaged a Philippine coast guard ship and a wooden-hulled supply boat operated by navy personnel, officials said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called an emergency meeting with the defense secretary and other top military and security officials to discuss the latest hostilities in the disputed waters. The Philippines and other neighbors of China have resisted Beijing’s sweeping territorial claims over virtually the entire South China Sea, and some, like Manila, have sought U.S. military support as incidents multiply.

    • @SquizzyEnglish
      -7•1 year ago

      How would that make it so it couldn’t be spread thin?

      • mrnotoriousman
        -2•1 year ago

        Because the rest of the entire world could combine their militaries and still likely lose a war? China is in no position to actually fight the US, that’s why they constantly do these stupid moves. But we’re on Lemmy and it’s full of tankies and China simps so no surprise

        • @SquizzyEnglish
          0•1 year ago

          I didn’t say China was or show support for anyone. I’m pointing out the the US is being spread thin given they have pledged support to Ukraine, Taiwan, The Philippines and israel, all of which are looking like they have upcoming to immediate requirements.

          Also stop being a bootlicker if you’re going to call out tankies, the US can’t run a fucking election or get a speaker of the house but you can jizz yourself over military prowess. If we follow the US track record they will lose a fuck ton of their youth in a war in Palestine, commit war crimes, refuse to treat the survivors when they return to the US and then in 20 years give the keys to the State to Hamas.

          See Afghanistan for reference.