The United States urged China on Tuesday to abide by its obligations under the international law that rejects the latter’s maritime claims over the South China Sea, particularly those that are determined part of the Philippines’ expanded economic zone. The US also asked China to “cease its provocative behavior” as it reaffirmed its commitment 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.” State Secretary Antony Blinken made the statement on the Sixth Anniversary of the Philippines-China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Ruling.

US to China: cease provocative behavior in South China Sea. (2022, July 13). Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 4.