Rejection of US help in South China Sea shows Philippines acting on its own: analysts

Military chief Romeo Brawner said Washington’s support won’t be sought before ‘exhausting all possible options’ amid rising tensions with China

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A Chinese coastguard vessel sails near a Philippine boat during a March resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Published: 2:02pm, 10 Jul 2024Updated: 5:23pm, 10 Jul 2024

The Philippines’ rejection of a US offer to help with regular resupply missions for troops on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea shows Manila prefers to handle operations on its own and Beijing could view Washington’s involvement as attempts to incite conflict in the waterway, analysts say.

Chinese and Philippine ships have been embroiled in a series of confrontations in the contested seaway in recent months.

A Filipino sailor lost a thumb during a June 17 clash when the Philippine side attempted to deliver essentials to soldiers manning a military outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal.

The United States has reiterated its ironclad defence commitments against any attack on Philippine aircraft or vessels in the South China Sea under their 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty.

But Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said his country would “try to exhaust all possible options that we have before we ask for help” after revealing that the US had extended its support.

“Yes, of course, they have been offering help and they asked us how they could help us in any way,” Brawner said last week.

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