Commander Aquilino, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said he was concerned that China had repeatedly committed aggressive and dangerous acts against the Philippines in the South China Sea, calling it a ``crisis situation.'' China was strongly discouraged, as there was a possibility of a connection between the two countries.
Commander Aquilino, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, attended a hearing at the House Armed Services Committee on the 20th.
Commander Aquilino said that on March 5th, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine military ship near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, a disputed territory between the Philippines and China, and the crew members were killed. "This is a critical situation and there is a risk that things could go wrong. It is concerning that China continues to engage in aggressive and dangerous actions against our allies. ” he said.
``If a Philippine military member is killed, the Mutual Defense Treaty may apply. If that happens, I am required to present options to the Secretary of Defense.'' He strongly discouraged China, saying that it could lead to a military response from the United States.
Regarding the South China Sea, where China is increasingly active, opinions are expected to be exchanged at the first trilateral summit meeting between Japan, the United States, and the Philippines, to be held in Washington on April 11th.