US condemns China over shoal confrontation
Washington, July 21
The United States condemned what it called China's "dangerous and aggressive actions" against Philippine navy personnel at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, urging Beijing to stop what it described as destabilising behaviour in one of Asia's most contested waterways.
The US "condemns China's dangerous and aggressive actions against Philippine navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on July 20, 2026, and calls on China to immediately cease its destabilising conduct," said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
The United States said the latest incident reflected a broader pattern of Chinese actions against Philippine maritime operations.
"China's troubling pattern of provocation against lawful Philippine maritime operations undermines regional peace and stability and directly contradicts China's repeated commitments to resolve disputes peacefully," Pigott said.
The statement did not provide additional details about the confrontation but reiterated Washington's support for its long-standing treaty ally.
"We stand with our Ally, the Philippines, and commend the professionalism and restraint shown by Philippine navy personnel in this incident," Pigott said.
The United States also reaffirmed its backing for the landmark 2016 international arbitration ruling on the South China Sea dispute.
"We reaffirm the July 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which found that China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea have no basis in international law. That decision is final and legally binding on both China and the Philippines," the statement said.
Washington said it would continue working with regional allies and partners to uphold security and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
"We will continue to stand with our Allies and partners in defense of a free and open Indo-Pacific," Pigott said.
For India, developments in the South China Sea carry strategic significance. A large share of India's trade passes through the broader Indo-Pacific sea lanes, and New Delhi has consistently called for freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in accordance with international law.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, this is a classic case of the big powers playing games in our neighborhood. The US wants to contain China, China wants to flex its muscles, and poor Philippines is caught in the middle. India should talk to both sides—China is our neighbor too, and we have shared interests.
The 2016 arbitration ruling is clear—China's claims have no legal basis. But India has its own border issues with China, so we must support international law consistently. Can't pick and choose when to enforce these rulings. Otherwise our own position on Kashmir and other disputes weakens. 🤔
As an American, I hope India and the US remain strong partners. But I wish our politicians would stop hyping every incident. Both China and the Philippines need to sit down and talk instead of posturing. The real issue is how to keep these waters open for global trade, not just military games.
Interesting timing—just after India's SCO summit with China, the US makes this statement. India has to balance neatly: keep good relations with China for economic reasons while maintaining security ties with the Quad partners. Not easy, but our diplomats are usually smart about this. 😌
I think India should support the rule of law, full stop. If China is aggressive in the South China Sea, they could be aggressive on the LAC too. We've seen that firsthand in Galwan. So standing for the 2016 ruling isn't just about the Philippines—it's about protecting our own interests in the long run. 🇮🇳
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.