The U.S. military is open to consultations on escorting Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Tuesday, amid rising hostilities between Beijing and Manila in the disputed waters.
The remarks were made by Admiral Samuel Paparo in response to a question at a news conference in Manila with Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. It provides a glimpse into the mindset of one of America’s top military commanders outside the United States on the prospect of an operation that would risk putting U.S. Navy ships in direct collision with Chinese Navy vessels.
Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia vessels have frequently clashed with Philippine vessels seeking to supply supplies to Filipino sailors stationed in parts of the South China Sea claimed by both countries.
As these clashes escalate, resulting in injuries to Filipino sailors and damage to their vessels, the Philippine government faces questions about the implementation of its alliance pact with Washington.
Paparo and Brawner spoke to reporters after an international military conference in Manila hosted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command that highlighted China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea. Military and defense officials and diplomats from the United States and allied nations were present, but there was no Chinese representative at the conference.
When asked whether the United States military would consider escorting Philippine vessels delivering food and other supplies to Philippine troops in the South China Sea, Paparo replied, “Of course, within the context of consultation.”
“Any option between our two sovereign nations in terms of our mutual defense, ship-to-ship escort, is an option that is entirely reasonable within our Mutual Defense Treaty, between our two countries’ close alliance,” Paparo said without elaborating.
Brawner responded cautiously to the statement, which could run afoul of Philippine law, including a constitutional ban on foreign troops directly participating in local combat operations.
“The position of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as stipulated by the Philippine Constitution, is that we must rely first on our own strength,” Brawner said. “We will explore all options, all avenues available to us to achieve our mission … in this case, the delivery of supplies and the rotation of our forces.”
“After that we will try other options if we run into limitations in doing it ourselves,” Brawner said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that so far there has been no situation that would warrant the implementation of the pact, which requires allies to come to each other's aid if they face external attack.
President Joe Biden and his administration have repeatedly renewed their “ironclad” commitment to help defend the Philippines under a 1951 treaty if Philippine forces, ships and aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea. (uh)
