MANILA (Reuters) – The commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, Vice Admiral Thomas, said on Monday that China’s “provocative actions” in the South China Sea, which included a Chinese Coast Guard ship firing high-pressure water jets at Philippine ships, must be challenged and stopped. .
Karl Thomas assured the Philippines of U.S. support in the face of “common challenges” in the region, adding: “My troops are here for a reason.”
“You have to challenge those who are operating in gray areas. When they build up pressure on you, you have to fight back, you have to sail and run,” Thomas told Reuters.
He further mentioned: “There is no more pertinent example of provocative behavior than the Chinese actions that took place in Second Thomas Shoal on August 5.”
On August 5, a Chinese coast guard ship intercepted a Philippine patrol ship and a supply ship in the South China Sea with dangerous actions, and fired high-pressure water jets to prevent the delivery of supplies to Philippine officers and soldiers stationed in Ren’ai Shoal.
Thomas said he had discussed with Alberto Carlos, Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (WESCOM) in charge of defense in the South China Sea, “to understand what challenges he faces and identify opportunities to help him.”
Thomas added: “Of course we have common challenges. So I want to know more about how he views the defense that he is responsible for. And I want to make sure he understands the resources that I have at my disposal.”
China has built up militarized man-made islands in the South China Sea, and its historical claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Central News Agency (Translation)
Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet: China’s frequent provocations in the South China Sea must be stopped
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2023-08-27 14:05:15
