Analyst Urges US to Back Philippines in Maritime Dispute

A prominent American security expert has suggested to Congress that the U.S. declare the security of shoals and islands controlled by the Philippines in the disputed area of the South China Sea falls within the scope of their bilateral treaty.

Top U.S. officials have repeatedly made a similar declaration regarding Japan’s Senkaku Islands, also claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands, but have not done so with those held by the Philippines in the South China Sea. Details