China Blasts US for Its Support of Regional Ally

China lashed out at Washington Thursday for continuing to side with U.S. treaty ally the Philippines in an escalating territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

"The U.S. instigated and emboldened the Philippine side to infringe upon China's sovereignty, which escalated maritime tensions," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said, in reference to Second Thomas Shoal, a Philippines-held reef China also claims jurisdiction over—as it does most of the resource-rich South China Sea.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated sharply in recent months as Chinese maritime forces obstruct and intimidate Philippine fishermen and coast guard missions. These incidents have occurred within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, an area extending 200 miles from its coastline.

Wu denounced U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's recent expression of support for the Philippines, with which the U.S. shares a mutual defense treaty.

Austin met with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on November 15 on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers' meeting in Indonesia.

He reiterated President Joe Biden's statement that the U.S.' defense commitment to Manila is "ironclad" and Washington "stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its Exclusive Economic Zone."

The U.S. Department of Defense and Chinese Ministry of Defense did not immediately reply to Newsweek's separate written requests for comment.

Wu also condemned reports that the U.S. was advising the Southeast Asian country on repairs to the BRP Sierra Madre, a former warship the Philippines grounded at Second Thomas Shoal to stake its claim.

A small contingent of Philippine marines is based there. They rely on regular shipments of supplies, as well as construction materials, to keep the vessel's dilapidated hulk together.

Japanese newspaper Nikkei cited an unnamed Philippine official as saying Manila and the U.S. had entered into informal talks about the structure of the ship with the aim of hashing out a repair plan.

"The Philippine side illegally grounded a military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao (Second Thomas Shoal) and attempted to reinforce it by sending ships to intrude into [its waters]," said Wu. He added that these actions violate both China's sovereignty and international law.

Wu stressed the dispute is a bilateral issue between Beijing and Manila and said Washington's interference will just make matters worse.

The showdown took place as five Philippine ships, en route to resupply the marines stationed at the World War II-era tank landing ship the BRP Sierra Madre, were intercepted by more than twice as many Chinese vessels, which video footage shows boxing in, or what Manila has called "corralling," the ships. A Chinese crew also blasted a Philippine ship with a water cannon.

Recent missions to resupply Second Thomas Shoal, which the Philippines calls Ayungin Shoal, have been flashpoints between the two neighbors.

A mission in October resulted in a pair of minor collisions. Earlier this month, Chinese boats, which had a numerical advantage, shadowed and attempted to block Philippine vessels en route to the atoll.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lambasted China's "coercive tactics and dangerous maneuvers" in a speech during his trip to Hawaii earlier this month, saying his country was seeking cooperation with "allies and partners" to improve regional security. Marcos also met with Admiral John. Aquilino, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.