HONOLULU: Injury to Philippine vessels and accidents to their crew within the South China Sea is “irresponsible behaviour” in disregard of worldwide legislation, US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Thursday (Might 2), weighing in on the newest flare-up involving China.
Manila and Beijing have traded barbs virtually day by day since Tuesday’s confrontation on the disputed Scarborough Shoal, the place China’s coast guard used water cannon towards two vessels from the Philippines, prompting outrage from its authorities.
“We have been very clear to everybody, to incorporate Beijing, that the type of behaviour that we have seen, the place Filipino crews are put at risk … sailors have been injured and property broken, that’s irresponsible behaviour,” Austin instructed a joint press convention in Hawaii.
Austin reiterated the USA would proceed to help its former colony the Philippines, as outlined in a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty.
“Our dedication to the treaty is ironclad and we stand with the Philippines,” he stated after a gathering with defence counterparts of the Philippines, Australia and Japan.
Showing alongside Austin, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro refused to invest in regards to the circumstances by which Manila may invoke the treaty, saying that may be a “political resolution”.
