The United States has criticised China over its escalating territorial dispute with the Philippines in the South China Sea, accusing Beijing of taking steps that could further undermine regional stability.

In a statement on Saturday, the US State Department accused China of trying to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing traditional fishing grounds around the disputed Scarborough Shoal, located off the Philippine island of Luzon.

Washington also rejected China’s recent designation of the area as a “national nature reserve”, describing the move as an attempt to strengthen its territorial claims.

The State Department said China was using environmental and legal arguments, backed by coercion, to advance its maritime claims at the expense of neighbouring countries. It reaffirmed Washington’s support for the Philippines and a “free and open Indo-Pacific”.

Tensions between China and the Philippines have intensified in recent weeks, with reports of Chinese vessels using water cannon against Philippine boats operating near Scarborough Shoal.

The disputed waters have been at the centre of a long-running territorial dispute between the two countries. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague largely rejected China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. Beijing rejected the ruling and has continued to assert its claims under the so-called “nine-dash line”.

China has also expanded its military and maritime presence across the region, including the construction and militarisation of artificial islands.

The South China Sea remains one of the world’s most important trade routes, with trillions of dollars in goods passing through its waters annually.

The US has increasingly strengthened its support for the Philippines and other regional allies amid growing tensions with Beijing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently criticised China’s actions against Philippine vessels, saying Washington would not abandon its allies.

The latest dispute has further heightened concerns over the potential for confrontation between China and the Philippines, which is a US treaty ally.

US Condemns China’s Actions in South China Sea, Backs Philippines

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