US stresses Philippines right to resupply...

Philippine resupply mission near Ayungin Shoal on Saturday. The U.S. said the act directly threatened regional peace and stability.

The boats were delivering food, water, fuel and other supplies to Philippine military troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

“I don’t have anything to announce right now in terms of sending any type of additional assistance. To my knowledge, the Philippines has not asked for additional assistance,” Ryder added.

The U.S. reaffirmed that an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces, including those of its Coast Guard, in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

On Monday, August 7, the Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest over China’s latest attack on Philippine vessels. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and presented the Philippines’ strongly worded diplomatic protest on the blocking and water cannon operations by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels against Philippine boats.

The Philippines demanded that China immediately stop its illegal activities in the country’s maritime zones.

During a joint press conference, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showed videos and photographs of six

CCG ships and two Chinese militia vessels blocking two Philippine boats on a routine supply mission, dangerous maneuvers and aggressive use of water cannon against the boats.

The Philippines has filed 445 diplomatic protests since 2020 over China’s illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea. In 2023, 35 diplomatic protests were filed, including the note verbale given during the summoning of the Chinese envoy.

Japan ODA

Japan has provided more than P12 billion in funding to the Philippines to support its emergency response to victims of natural calamities and finance the purchase of new maritime equipment.

Japan is allocating 30 billion yen, or P11.79 billion, for the Post-Disaster Standby Loan (PDSL) Phase 3 that seeks to bankroll recovery measures in disaster aftermath.

As with previous tranches of the PDSL, the Philippines can tap the financing anytime it requires additional capital

US defense chief Austin condemns recent...

for response and relief efforts. The loan is slapped with an interest rate of 0.01 percent per annum and should be repaid within a period of 30 years.

“With Typhoon Egay attacking the Philippines just last month, it is evident that our countries are frequently exposed to natural disasters, including typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said.

Japan is also giving a grant of 1.1 billion yen, or P432.14 million, for the Satellite Data Communication System of the PCG to improve monitoring of the West Philippine Sea.

Koshikawa on Tuesday, August 8 signed the notes for PDSL 3 and the Satellite Data Communication System and turned over the documents to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Tokyo serves as the largest ODA source for Manila, with loans ranging from economic support to military assistance. n

PAGE 1 cooperation. The United States stands with our allies in supporting their lawful rights to operate freely in the maritime domain,” Austin wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder released a statement on Wednesday, detailing the phone call between Teodoro and Austin.

“Secretary Austin condemned the China Coast Guard’s use of water cannons and other dangerous maneuvers, which put the safety of Philippine vessels and crew at risk,” the statement read.

“He joined numerous countries in expressing concern about these unsafe operational activities, which undermine the status quo and directly threaten regional peace and stability,” it added.

According to Pentagon, both defense officials expressed commitment to uphold a rules-based order and safeguard the Philippines’ entitlement to engage in legitimate maritime activities, in accordance with the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling. This ruling has been deemed “final and binding on all parties.”

The U.S. defense chief also reaffirmed the coverage of the Mutual Defense Treaty

(MDT), stating that it encompasses not only Philippine public vessels but also aircraft, armed forces, and coast guard assets in the Pacific region, including the South China Sea. Any armed aggression against either the Philippines or the United States within the Pacific Area will be considered a shared threat, prompting both nations to respond cooperatively in line with their respective constitutional processes.

Pentagon also reported that the two defense leaders expressed the intention to arrange an in-person meeting in the near future.

“The Secretaries committed to find a nearterm opportunity to meet in-person and restated their commitment to stand shoulderto-shoulder as allies to bring security, prosperity, and stability to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” it said.

On August 5, China Coast Guard (CCG) ships fired water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels escorting resupply boats headed to the BRP Sierra Madre near Ayungin Shoal.

This incident marked the most recent escalation in the West Philippine Sea, revealing China’s employment of its coast guard, overseen by President Xi Jinping through the Central Military Commission. n