The US house committee on China has urged Washington to ensure funding for the Philippines to counter Beijing’s “aggressive and destabilizing actions” in the South China Sea, according to a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which warns cuts could threaten US security interests.
In the letter seen by Reuters yesterday, the US House of Representatives’ Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sought clarity on funding for the Philippine Coast Guard, noting that the US Department of State had sought a dramatically reduced budget for next year for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement that would “devastate” programs to help its ally stand up to China.
The select committee’s letter follows moves by China to further tighten its grip on the strategically located Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島), one of Asia most contested maritime features, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have clashed repeatedly. Taiwan also has claims to the shoal.
Photo: AP
“Beijing has significantly escalated its aggressive activities in the South China Sea, including its efforts to unlawfully assert control over much of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. [China’s] coast guard and maritime militia regularly attack or physically coerce Philippine vessels,” the letter said.
“Beijing’s actions have only grown more threatening over the last several months, reflecting the immediacy of this threat,” it added.
The US has stressed its alliance with the Philippines is “ironclad.” It was among the countries whose security funding was exempted in February from US aid freezes.
It was not immediately clear how much of the US$336 million Washington allocated for Philippine defense modernization is for maritime security.
The house select committee letter was signed by US representatives Greg Stanton, Seth Moulton and ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi.
It mentioned recent standoffs, including a near collision between a Chinese navy ship and a Philippine coast guard vessel at Scarborough Shoal, which the committee said could have led to Manila invoking a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington.
The Philippines in 2023 successfully lobbied for more specificity in the treaty to include US defense from attacks “anywhere in the South China Sea” including on coast guard vessels.
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