An escalating series of clashes in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China could draw the U.S., which has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, into the conflict.
A 60 Minutes crew got a close look at the tense situation when traveling on a Philippine Coast Guard ship that was rammed by the Chinese Coast Guard.
China has repeatedly rammed Philippine ships and blasted them with water cannons over the last two years. There are ongoing conversations between Washington and Manila about which scenarios would trigger U.S. involvement, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro said in an interview.
“I really don’t know the end state,” Teodoro said. “All I know is that we cannot let them get away with what they’re doing.”
China as “the proverbial schoolyard bully”
China claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, through which more than $3 trillion in goods flow annually. But in 2016, an international tribunal at the Hague ruled the Philippines has exclusive economic rights in a 200-mile zone that includes the area where the ship with the 60 Minutes team on board got rammed.
China does not recognize the international tribunal’s ruling.
Can’t wait for America to spend all it’s money defending an island in the South China Sea while homelessness skyrockets and no one can afford healthcare. Awesome priorities
Oh hi China.
How about that Tiananmen square massacre of students and civilians by the PLA on 4 Jine, 1989 though?
Someone get George Bush Sr on the phone and cancel the Nixon era free trade deal.
Oh wait, nevermind. Gotta have our treats.
Are you willing to fight and die for some islands on the other side of the world? Be my guest.
Well, I’m convinced!
Btw, if you get a raise or like a bonus or something for convincing an American, can I get a piece of that?
You’re the reason it sucks to live in America, you’d rather go to war with everyone than help your neighbor
Lol.
Let me guess, the west started the war with Ukraine too and America is making Ukrainians suffer by helping them too?
Yes, how dare we ram a ship in their own territorial waters without provocation.
Having worked in China, oh my god it’s somewhere between hell on earth and an open air prison, I’ll take the US any day.
Well, those goods do help support the non-homeless and the health-insured too. Maybe we can have both?