The United States on Friday backed Manila’s strong protest against Beijing after Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and used water cannons against two Philippine ships on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. “The United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in the face of this escalation that directly threatens regional peace and stability, escalates regional tensions, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law, and undermines the rules-based international order,” the US Department of State said in a statement released by the US Embassy in the Manila. Citing the 2016 arbitral award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in favor of the Philippines, the US emphasized that the PCA “delivered a unanimous and enduring decision firmly rejecting China’s claims to Second Thomas Shoal and to waters determined to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.”

Requejo, R. E., Barcelo, V., Cruz, M. V., & Ramos-Araneta, M. (2021, November 20). US to China: Stay out of PH exclusive zone. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.