The US has expressed its commitment to protecting the Philippines if its troops, public vessels, or aircraft are tried to attack in the South China Sea (SCS).

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the confirmation on Tuesday while reiterating Washington’s support for the Philippines’ 2016 The Hague ruling.

He stated that the US reiterates its rules concerning maritime boundaries in the SCS as of July 13, 2020. The US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, then stated that Beijing will not be allowed to use the SCS as a “maritime empire.”

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) governed in favor of the Philippines on July 12, 2016, declaring that China’s so-called “nine-dashed line” nationwide border has no legitimate basis for claiming territorial claims to almost all funds in the SCS.

“Six years ago, an Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention delivered a unanimous decision, which is final and binding on the Philippines and the PRC (People’s Republic of China),” Blinken explained.

He stated in a declaration that the Tribunal “firmly rejected the PRC’s expansive South China Sea maritime claims as having no basis in international law” inside its decision.

The Tribunal as well mentioned that the PRC has no legitimate title to the getting confirmation by the Arbitral Tribunal to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelves.

“We call again on the PRC to abide by its obligations under international law and cease its provocative behavior,” Blinken stated.
“We call again on the PRC to abide by its obligations under international law and cease its provocative behavior,” Blinken stated. “We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article 4 of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” Blinken said.