July 12, 2021
1 min read

US govt repeats warning to China against attack on Philippine forces

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the comment in a written statement marking the fifth anniversary of a ruling by an arbitration tribunal repudiating China’s vast territorial claims…reports Asian Lite News

The United States on Sunday repeated a warning to China that an attack on Philippine armed forces in the South China Sea would trigger a 1951 U.S.-Philippines mutual defense treaty.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the comment in a written statement marking the fifth anniversary of a ruling by an arbitration tribunal repudiating China’s vast territorial claims in the South China Sea.

China – which lays claim to most of the waters within a so-called Nine Dash Line, which is also contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam – reiterated on Friday that Beijing did not accept the ruling.

“The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea,” Blinken said, referring to the rejection by former President Donald Trump’s administration of China’s claims to offshore resources in most of the South China Sea.

“We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” Blinken added.

That article of the treaty says in part that “each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.”

Blinken has made the point before, including during an April 8 conversation with the Philippine foreign minister in which the State Department said he “reaffirmed the applicability” of the treaty to the South China Sea.

ALSO READ: Biden calls Putin, asks him to act on ransomware attacks

Previous Story

Bill Gates and others pledge $140m to cover UK foreign aid cut

Next Story

Saudi, Oman Agree to Expedite Opening of Borders

Latest from -Top News

UAE welcomes India’s all-party delegation

The United Arab Emirates is the first stop on this strategic tour, with the delegation engaging UAE leadership, parliamentarians, and media in a series of high-level meetings. In a significant diplomatic outreach,

Operation Sindoor: Indian MPs in Tokyo

Their visit marks the beginning of India’s unprecedented diplomatic campaign to expose Pakistan’s sustained role in cross-border terrorism…reports Asian Lite News An all-party parliamentary team led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha met

Tharoor carries Govt’s message to US

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expresses his commitment to showcase India’s zero-tolerance stance against terrorism, emphasising that the mission transcends party politics and reflects national unity Congress MP Shashi Tharoor leads one of

Trump: No Place for Radicalism in US

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon labelled the fatal attack a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism”…reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump strongly condemned the shooting that killed two Israeli

‘Waqf not an essential part of Islam’

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told a bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih Waqf Board does not touch upon any religious functions The
Go toTop

Don't Miss

China Lends Over $21B More Than Previously Thought to Pakistan

AidData, a research institute at William and Mary University in

Xi Jinping resolute despite mounting setbacks

President Xi Jinping seems the type of man who stubbornly