The US has urged China to stop harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, and promised to support the Philippines during the ongoing geopolitical tensions. The US State Department issued a statement calling for Beijing to refrain from provocative and unsafe conduct.

The Philippines has accused China's coast guard of using "aggressive tactics" during a recent incident involving a Philippine coast guard patrol close to the Philippines-held Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The shoal is a long-standing flashpoint for tensions between the two countries and is home to a small military contingent aboard a World War Two-era U.S. ship. The ship was grounded intentionally in 1999 to reinforce the Philippines' territorial claims in the area. In February, the Philippines alleged that a Chinese ship had directed a "military-grade laser" at one of its resupply vessels.

China's claim to almost the entire South China Sea with its "nine-dash line" has been a longstanding point of contention with neighboring countries. The line, which stretches more than 1,500 km off the Chinese mainland, overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.

However, an international arbitral ruling in 2016 rejected the validity of the line, stating that it had no legal basis.
In response to recent incidents involving Philippine coast guard patrols close to the Second Thomas Shoal, which is located within the disputed area, China's foreign ministry has accused the Philippine vessels of intruding into Chinese waters and making deliberate provocative moves.

This statement suggests that China continues to assert its sovereignty over the disputed waters and is willing to take a tough stance against any perceived threats to its territorial claims.

The US State Department has issued a statement affirming its support for the Philippines in upholding the international maritime order based on established rules. The statement emphasizes the United States' commitment to standing with its Philippine allies during ongoing tensions in the region.