The United States has expressed its support for the Philippines and condemned actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea. On August 31, a China Coast Guard vessel deliberately collided three times with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Sabina Shoal, an area within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The incident caused damage to the Philippine vessel and endangered the crew's safety.

This collision is part of a series of aggressive actions by the PRC throughout August 2024. These actions have disrupted lawful Philippine aerial and maritime operations in the South China Sea, including at Sabina Shoal. The PRC's claims of "territorial sovereignty" over areas without land territory and its aggressive enforcement of these claims pose threats to navigation and overflight freedoms for all nations.

The United States has called on the PRC to align its claims and actions with international law and to cease dangerous and destabilizing conduct.

Additionally, the United States reaffirmed that Article IV of the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty covers armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of its Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea.