Blinken Affirms US ‘Ironclad Commitments’ to Philippines After Clash With China in South China Sea

Washington condemned the Chinese regime’s ‘escalatory and irresponsible actions.’

A Chinese Coast Guard ship fires a water cannon at Unaizah May 4, a Philippine navy chartered vessel, conducting a routine resupply mission to troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5, 2024. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored Washington’s “ironclad commitments” to the Philippines during his call with Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo to discuss the Chinese regime’s recent actions in the South China Sea.

“Their discussion followed the PRC’s dangerous and irresponsible actions to deny the Philippines from executing a lawful maritime operation in the South China Sea on June 17,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on June 19. PRC is the acronym for communist China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.