HONOLULU –
Damage to Philippine ships and injuries to their crews in the South China Sea constitutes “irresponsible conduct” in violation of international law, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday, addressing the latest flare-up involving China .
Manila and Beijing have traded barbs almost daily since Tuesday’s clash at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, where the Chinese coast guard used water cannons against two ships from the Philippines, sparking government outrage.
“We have been very clear to everyone, including Beijing, that the type of behavior we have seen, which has endangered Filipino crews… injured sailors and damaged property, is irresponsible behavior,” Austin said. told a joint news conference in Hawaii.
