US affirms defense treaty amid China's ‘unsafe’ acts in West PH Sea

Metro Manila, Philippines - The United States slammed China's “reckless and irresponsible” actions when a Chinese navy helicopter maneuvered dangerously close to a Philippine aircraft in Scarborough Shoal.

"The United States stands with its ally the Philippines to condemn the unsafe and irresponsible actions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) to interfere with a Philippine maritime air operation in the vicinity of Scarborough Reef," US State Department Secretary Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

Washington noted that the close encounter followed another aggressive action by China when it deployed flares to an Australian air force plane in the South China Sea.

"Reckless Chinese actions such as these are a threat to navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and we will continue to support our allies and partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. We call on China to refrain from coercive actions and settle its disputes peacefully in accordance with international law," the US State Department added.

The US reminded China about the mutual defense treaty with the Philippines which "extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft - including those of its coast guard - anywhere in the South China Sea."

US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson issued a similar statement on Wednesday that called on Beijing to refrain from committing provocative actions in the South China Sea.

Disregarding facts

The Chinese Embassy in Manila Carlson is “disregarding the facts and distorting the truth.”

“Any rhetoric or actions that embolden the Philippines to pursue its illegitimate territorial claims through provocations and staged incidents are bound to be in vain,” the embassy said in a statement.