![]() ![]() is preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, security analysts said. Beijing might see a window of opportunity while the U.S. into direct conflict with China, carrying huge risks for both powers. to back up its ally-not just diplomatically but also militarily. “We are doing something that will make sure it remains there and remains livable."Īny move by China to seize Second Thomas Shoal would put pressure on the U.S. Medel Aguilar, spokesman for the Philippine armed forces. “We have to make sure that vessel remains livable for our troops that are stationed there," said Col. The Philippines says it has a duty to support its marines on the ship. ![]() It has said it is intercepting boats because the Philippines is trying to transport construction materials alongside food and other necessities. Beijing might be accelerating the ship’s decline by trying to block Manila from carrying out even patchwork repairs, said Jay Batongbacal, a maritime-affairs expert at the University of the Philippines College of Law.īeijing objects to repairs on the Sierra Madre, which it has asked the Philippines to tow away. If the ship starts to fall apart, Chinese forces would likely mobilize to take control of Second Thomas Shoal, squeezing out the Philippines. Rommel Ong, who retired as a vice commander of the Philippine navy in 2019. “You can only repair it so much," said Adm. The Philippines has carried out repairs incrementally over time, but the ship won’t stay intact forever-and some think its days are numbered. The tensions in the region have been rising as Manila contends with a pressing problem: The Sierra Madre is in bad shape after being exposed to the elements for nearly 25 years. Seventh Fleet declined to comment on specific military operations but said all of its activities were done in coordination with the Philippines. The State Department called China’s actions dangerous and unlawful, as did other U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke to his Philippine counterpart Monday, and said the U.S.’s alliance commitments to the Philippines were ironclad. ![]() An American patrol aircraft was at the scene during a resupply run last month, a Philippine armed-forces spokesman said. Navy destroyer USS Dewey was over the horizon from the site of Sunday’s encounters between Chinese and Philippine ships-present, though keeping its distance. has shown strong support for its Southeast Asian ally and sought to deter further Chinese escalation. If tensions continue to rise, they could draw in Washington, which has a security alliance with Manila rooted in a decades-old mutual-defense treaty. ![]() The stakes are high, not just for the Philippines but also for the U.S. On Sunday, a Chinese coast guard ship and maritime militia boat collided with Philippine vessels that were headed to Second Thomas Shoal. The Chinese coast guard has aimed a military-grade laser and shot a water cannon at Philippine vessels. The Philippines sends regular supplies to the marines on the ship, and China is trying to make those missions as difficult as possible. The country grounded the ship on the reef 2½ decades ago to stave off China’s expanding control over the South China Sea. The decrepit ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, and the small detachment of marines aboard are defending the Philippines’ claim to Second Thomas Shoal, located about 100 miles off its west coast. ![]()
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