US Calls on China to Stop “Provocative and Unsafe Conduct” in South China Sea Amid Tense Encounter with Philippines

The United States is urging China to stop its “provocative and unsafe conduct” in the South China Sea following a tense encounter between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine patrol vessel. The State Department has accused China of harassing and intimidating Philippine vessels in the contested waterway. Any attack on Philippine armed forces would trigger a US response. The Philippines has accused China’s coast guard of “dangerous maneuvers” during the incident. China claims sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. US President Joe Biden is set to host Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Monday. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.