The United States government has called on China to halt its hostile actions against Philippine vessels in the contested South China Sea. This comes after a recent incident involving the Philippine coast guard and China's coast guard near the Second Thomas Shoal, a well-known flashpoint for previous confrontations.

In a statement, the US State Department requested that Beijing cease its dangerous and provocative behavior. The Philippines recently accused the Chinese coast guard of engaging in aggressive tactics during a patrol near the Second Thomas Shoal, which lies about 105 nautical miles (195 km) from the Philippine coast.

In response to the US statement, China expressed its willingness to address maritime disputes with concerned countries in the South China Sea through amicable discussions. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson urged the United States not to interfere in the region's affairs or exploit the situation to create discord among the countries involved.

The Second Thomas Shoal houses a small military force on a decrepit World War II-era US ship that was deliberately grounded in 1999 to bolster the Philippines' territorial claims. In February, the Philippines reported that a Chinese vessel had aimed a military-grade laser at one of its supply ships.

China asserts dominion over nearly the entire South China Sea, using a "nine-dash line" on maps that extends more than 1,500 km from its mainland, encroaching on the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. A 2016 international arbitration ruling dismissed the line as having no legal foundation.

The Chinese foreign ministry claimed that the Philippine vessels trespassed into Chinese waters and engaged in intentional provocative actions. Meanwhile, the US State Department reaffirmed its support for the Philippines, emphasizing the importance of upholding a rules-based international maritime system.