The United States has voiced support for the Philippines’ call on China to respect international law amid reports of swarming of Chinese vessels around Iroquois (Del Pilar) Reef and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. “The United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in upholding the rules-based international order and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement yesterday. Through its embassy in Manila, China rejected the US accusations, calling them “unfounded.”

Lee-Brago, P., & Romero, P. (2022, December 21). US slams swarming of China ships in WPS. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 4.