By MATTHEW M. BURKE | STARS AND STRIPES Published: February 17, 2021 The USS Russell conducted a freedom-of-navigation operation in the South China Sea on Wednesday, challenging the “unlawful restrictions on innocent passage” imposed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan, the Navy’s 7th Fleet said. The guided-missile destroyer steamed past the Spratlys, a chain of more than 100 small islands and reefs, according to a statement from 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Joe Keiley on Wednesday. Six surrounding nations, including China, Vietnam and the Philippines, claim all or part of the Spratlys, a commercial fishing zone with potential oil and natural gas deposits. The islands are west of the Philippine island of Palawan.
Published January 28, 2021 11:55am US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed the Biden administration s commitment to defend the Philippines against any armed attack in the South China Sea amid Beijing s new law authorizing its coast guard to shoot foreign vessels in the disputed waters it claims nearly in its entirety. Blinken made this pledge in a call to Philippine counterpart Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Thursday, a day after he was sworn in as America s top diplomat. Secretary Blinken and Secretary Locsin reaffirmed that a strong US-Philippine Alliance is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, according to a statement released by the US State Department.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed the Biden administration's commitment to defend the Philippines against any armed attack in the South China Sea amid Beijing's new law authorizing its coast guard to shoot foreign vessels in the disputed waters it claims nearly in its entirety.