US condemns China over alleged ramming of ship in disputed waters
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The US accuses China of escalating the South China Sea dispute after a Philippine vessel was rammed near Thitu Island, reaffirming its defense pact with Manila
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In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, right, fires its water cannon at the Philippines' BRP Datu Pagbuaya near Philippines-occupied Thitu island, locally called Pag-asa island, at the South China Sea on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)
The United States has condemned China over an alleged maritime incident involving a Philippine vessel near Thitu Island in the Spratly Islands, calling it a dangerous provocation in the ongoing South China Sea dispute.
"The United States condemns China’s October 12 ramming and water cannoning of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel close to Thitu Island in the South China Sea," said US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott on Monday.
“We stand with our Philippine allies as they confront China’s dangerous actions, which undermine regional stability,” Pigott added.
On Sunday, China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun stated that a Philippine vessel had approached one of its ships in disputed waters, resulting in a collision.
Beijing has consistently claimed sovereignty over vast areas of the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by the Philippines and other countries in the region.
The Chinese side maintains that its coast guard operations are lawful and defensive in nature.
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US reaffirms defense treaty with the Philippines
The State Department emphasized that the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1951, remains in effect and applicable to any armed attacks against Philippine forces or vessels in the South China Sea.
“The United States reaffirms Article IV of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea,” Pigott said.
The South China Sea dispute involves overlapping territorial claims from multiple countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The contested areas, such as Thitu Island, Scarborough Shoal, and the Paracel Islands, are believed to be rich in oil and gas resources and are vital for international maritime trade.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, stating that China has no legal basis for its expansive claims in the South China Sea. The court found that the disputed islands do not constitute an exclusive economic zone. However, Beijing rejected the ruling and continues to assert control over key maritime zones.
The latest incident is expected to further strain relations between Washington, Manila, and Beijing, as the region remains one of the most volatile flashpoints in Asia-Pacific geopolitics.
