Second Thomas Shoal Escalation
Philippine RHIBs are surrounded and boarded by the China Coast Guard at Second Thomas Shoal. AFP Photo
On Monday, China Coast Guard forces stopped an Armed Forces of the Philippines resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal.
The AFP beached the former U.S. amphibious warship in 1999 to act as a forward base for Filipino Marines. Just 20 miles away is the Chinese artificial island/military outpost at Mischief Reef. About once a month, the AFP sends a resupply mission to the detachment on Sierra Madre and, since August, the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia try to stop it.
This week, the Chinese attempts were the most aggressive to date.
“The
Philippine sailor was injured as a result of the ‘PRC vessels’
dangerous and deliberate use of water cannons, ramming, and blocking
maneuvers,’” reads a Monday statement from the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Chinese forces also took over rigid-hull inflatable boats from AFP personnel and seized their weapons.
Usually, after each attempt, the Philippine Coast Guard quickly
posts video and images of the harassment, which has included water
cannons and ramming civilian ships. However, after the incident this
week, the AFP has taken over communication about the harassment and has
released much less information.
One explanation as to why are the U.S. obligations to the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
The State Department has
been clear that the U.S. would come to Manila’s aid if called on under
the treaty, but U.S. officials aren’t eager to engage in open conflict
with China.
“I would hope that the international community condemnation of those actions is enough to get the Chinese to back off,” U.S Indo-Pacific Command commander Adm. John Aquilino told Congress in March.
“But
if it doesn’t, it could go in bad places. The Philippines, if a sailor
or soldier or one of their members were killed, could invoke Article V
of the Mutual Defense Treaty. And that would put our policy
decision-makers in a place that would require really tough choices.”