Key allies of the country expressed their unwavering support after a Chinese Coast Guard ship intentionally collided with a Philippine Navy boat to stop a resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. described the maneuver as an escalation of China's aggression within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
Japan issued a statement expressing support after the incident.
"Japan expresses serious concern for actions which increase regional tensions, including a dangerous action that caused a collision between Chinese and Filipino ships on 22 October," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
It added that Japan believes the issue of the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability in the region and is a legitimate concern of the international community, including Japan.
"Thus, Japan opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force as well as any actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea," it said.
Citing the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement last February, the Foreign Ministry said the "government of Japan concurs with the Philippines' long-standing objections to unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities, and threat or use of force in the South China Sea."
"Furthermore, Japan highly appreciates the government of the Philippines for having consistently complied with the arbitral tribunal's award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China regarding the South China Sea, and has shown its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the (West Philippine Sea), as stated in the statement by the Foreign Minister of Japan issued on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the issuance of the award," it said.
Japan said it would continue to cooperate with the international community, such as the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States, to "protect free, open and peaceful seas."
'Ironclad' vow
The United States, meanwhile, reiterated its "ironclad" commitment to the Philippines.
According to a White House statement, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assured National Security Adviser Eduardo Año of US support in safeguarding its sovereign rights in the WPS under the Mutual Defense Treaty between both nations.
"Sullivan reiterated US support for our Philippine allies following the PRC Coast Guard and maritime militia's dangerous and unlawful actions on 22 October, obstructing a routine Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal," the statement read.
"Sullivan emphasized the ironclad US commitments to the Philippines under the
US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces — to include those of its Coast Guard — in the Pacific, including in the West Philippine Sea," it added.
Signed in 1951, the Philippines and the United States agreed that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declared that it would act to meet the common dangers by its constitutional processes.
The White House said Sullivan and Año "reaffirmed the enduring alliance and friendship between our nations and discussed upcoming US-Philippine engagements and ways to further strengthen our close partnership."
Manila vs Beijing
Both Manila and Beijing condemned the incident, which they said violated their sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation in the WPS.
The two countries traded blame for the incident, which also sparked concern from Australia, Canada and South Korea.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected Beijing's historical nine-dash line claim to the WPS.
Militia boats utilized
Teodoro labeled the Chinese actions near the shoal as deliberate.
"Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit the Unaiza May 2 and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra," Teodoro said.
"We are here to decry in the strongest terms this egregious violation and illegal act within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China's distorting of the story to fit its own ends."
His comments came hours after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with security officials and ordered the Coast Guard to investigate the incident, which was "being taken seriously at the highest levels of government," Malacañang said.
The military monitored "a large number of Chinese maritime militia vessels" swarming in the West Philippine Sea, National Security Council spokesperson, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, said.
In a television interview, Malaya said these vessels were spotted "not only in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc but also in other features, including (Scarborough Shoal) and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal."
"We are alarmed by the environmental degradation our Coast Guard ships were able to monitor in these areas," he told the ANC.
Malaya noted that environmental degradation or coral destruction would directly impact the livelihood of the fishermen in the WPS.
"Sometimes we forget the reasons why we are pushing our rights in the WPS. Some critics say this is just posturing on the part of the Philippines or a tug-of-war between China and the Philippines. No, this is not," he stressed.
"This is a battle for the resources of our country, particularly for our fishermen, so that when we monitor coral destruction in parts of the WPS, it alarms the government because it directly impacts the livelihood of our fishermen," he said.
Malaya also slammed China's "maligned information operation" and sharing of "false narratives" in its sweeping claims on the WPS.
"Definitely, there's a maligned information operation going on nowadays that is shared to the public and we are just happy it is not just the Philippine government that is sharing our side here — we have allies, if we may call them witnesses, from the media," he said.
