Risch, Wicker, Rubio Press Biden for Decisive Response to Chinese Aggression in South China Sea

WASHINGTON?– U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, yesterday sent a letter to President Biden urging support for the Philippines following repeated aggressive incidents from Chinese maritime assets in the South China Sea. 

In the letter, the senators recount actions beginning in August from the People’s Republic Coast Guard and maritime militia intended to interrupt Philippine resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre, a ship grounded on a reef in the area and manned by Philippine sailors. China’s Coast Guard and maritime militia have fired water cannons and threatened to ram supply ships in an attempt to stave off replenishment of the vessel. 

“China is on the verge of willfully triggering a humanitarian crisis by blocking the resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre. Its actions will eventually starve Filipino sailors on the vessel. China’s main purpose, of course, is to force the Philippines to abandon Second Thomas Shoal and take de facto control of this territorial feature,” the senators wrote. “Doing so would expand further its unlawful maritime claims – just as Beijing did with Scarborough Shoal over a decade ago. Each new claim of maritime sovereignty gives China another platform to hold allied territory (and U.S. military assets) at greater risk.”

The senators asked President Biden to outline a full list of plans to support the Philippine mission on the Sierra Madre – including defense and non-defense related options – while also pressing Biden to signal resolve in the face of Chinese aggression. Failing to do so, the senators argued, would enable even further malign action.

“Your administration has repeatedly stated that an attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces – including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea – would invoke the U.S. mutual defense commitments... China’s actions are testing the credibility and value of these commitments, and we must respond with strength,” the senators wrote. “We request your administration provide us with a full list of plans, branches, and sequels or other diplomatic or non-defense options developed by the Departments of State and Defense to support the Philippines and ensure the resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre.”

Full text of the letter can be found here or below:

Dear President Biden,

We write to express our grave concern regarding the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) hostile and unlawful actions in the South China Sea, particularly against the Philippines, and to request your administration move quickly to support the Philippines in countering China’s aggressive behavior.

On October 22, the Philippines attempted to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine vessel grounded on a reef in the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The PRC’s Coast Guard and maritime militia – once again – obstructed this mission by intentionally interfering with the Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation. This flagrant conduct jeopardized the lives of Filipino crew members and impeded critically needed supplies from reaching service members stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre.

China is on the verge of willfully triggering a humanitarian crisis by blocking the resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre. Its actions will eventually starve Filipino sailors on the vessel. China’s main purpose, of course, is to force the Philippines to abandon Second Thomas Shoal and take de facto control of this territorial feature. Doing so would expand further its unlawful maritime claims – just as Beijing did with Scarborough Shoal over a decade ago. Each new claim of maritime sovereignty gives China another platform to hold allied territory (and U.S. military assets) at greater risk.

Your administration has repeatedly stated that an attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces – including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea – would invoke the U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. China’s actions are testing the credibility and value of these commitments, and we must respond with strength. We request your administration provide us with a full list of plans, branches, and sequels or other diplomatic or non-defense options developed by the Departments of State and Defense to support the Philippines and ensure the resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre.

We look forward to your response and working with your administration to ensure that the Philippines can successfully resupply its sailors and fend off PRC encroachment into its sovereign territory.

Sincerely,

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