The recent series of diplomatic protests against China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea has the strong support of the United States, according to the US State Department. China recently stopped Filipino resupply operations and dispatched 200 of its paramilitary vessels to swarm a coral within the country’s waters in a heightening of its maritime claims. In a statement, US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said on 17 June that they shared the concerns of the Philippines on China’s provocative actions within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Villegas, G. H. (2022, June 19). U.S. weighs in, backs WPS tack. Daily Tribune, pp. A1, A6.