DistantNews
Support us
US condemns China's 'dangerous' actions against Philippine navy
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Conflict & Security

US condemns China's 'dangerous' actions against Philippine navy

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • The United States has condemned China's actions against the Philippine navy in the South China Sea as dangerous and aggressive.
  • U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott urged China to cease destabilizing actions and respect lawful Philippine maritime operations.
  • The incident occurred on July 20, 2026, near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, where Philippine forces confronted Chinese vessels.

The United States has strongly condemned what it described as 'dangerous and aggressive' actions by China against the Philippine navy in the South China Sea. The condemnation follows an incident where Chinese personnel allegedly injured a Filipino naval officer near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

The U.S. condemns China’s dangerous and aggressive actions toward Philippine naval personnel at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on July 20, 2026, and urges China to immediately cease its destabilizing behavior.

— Tommy PigottU.S. Department of State spokesperson, condemning China's actions.

Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, stated that China's pattern of provocations against legitimate Philippine maritime operations undermines regional peace and stability. He emphasized that these actions directly contradict Beijing's repeated commitments to resolving disputes peacefully. Pigott urged China to immediately halt its destabilizing behavior.

The incident reportedly took place on July 20, 2026. The Philippine military accused the Chinese Coast Guard of striking a Filipino naval officer with a baton as they approached a vessel long serving as a Philippine military outpost in the contested waters. According to the Philippines, a Chinese boat carrying eight individuals circled and recorded the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine warship intentionally grounded at Second Thomas Shoal, a focal point of conflict in the Spratly Islands.

China’s pattern of provocation against lawful Philippine maritime operations has undermined regional peace and stability and is in direct contradiction to Beijing’s repeated commitments to resolve disputes peacefully.

— Tommy PigottU.S. Department of State spokesperson, criticizing China's conduct in the South China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the strategically important waterway, despite an international arbitration ruling that found Beijing's claims to be without legal basis. China frequently engages in disputes with Philippine vessels in the area. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Manila on Tuesday for an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, and indicated he was open to an informal meeting with China's top diplomat, Wang Yi.

A Chinese boat carrying eight individuals circled and recorded the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine warship intentionally placed at Second Thomas Shoal, the focus of conflict in the Spratly Islands.

— PhilippinesDescribing the actions of Chinese vessels near the BRP Sierra Madre.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog