US condemns Chinese assault on Filipino vessel in South China Sea

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- The US State Department condemned late on Monday China's ramming and use of water cannons against a Filipino vessel in the South China Sea.
The State Department revealed in its statement, "The United States condemns China's October 12 ramming and water cannoning of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel close to Thitu Island in the South China Sea." It added, "We stand with our Philippine allies as they confront China's dangerous actions which undermine regional stability." "China's sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea and its increasingly coercive actions to advance them at the expense of its neighbors continue to undermine regional stability and fly in the face of its prior commitments to resolve disputes peacefully," the statement said.
"The United States reaffirms Article IV of the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft - including those of its Coast Guard - anywhere in the South China Sea." (end) amm.gta