The US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has called on the Biden administration to maintain funding for the Philippines in order to counteract China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the committee warned that proposed cuts to funding might jeopardize US security interests in the region. The letter raises concerns about the State Department’s significantly reduced budget request for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement in 2026, which could severely diminish support for the Philippine Coast Guard and other initiatives essential for helping the Philippines confront China’s encroachments.
This request for funding comes in light of recent escalatory actions by China, particularly regarding the Scarborough Shoal, a highly contested area where tensions have been escalating due to repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels. The letter highlights how China has intensified its efforts to exert unlawful control over vast parts of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Incidents involving aggressive tactics from China’s coast guard and maritime militia, including physical intimidation and attacks against Philippine vessels, have increased, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The United States has reiterated its “ironclad” alliance with the Philippines. Notably, the Philippines previously received an exemption from US aid freezes, emphasizing its strategic importance to American foreign policy. However, it remains unclear how much of the approximately $336 million allocated for Philippine defense modernization is earmarked for maritime security specifically.
Tensions were further heightened when China recently announced its intent to establish a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, which Rubio criticized as another coercive measure in China’s ongoing territorial claims. China’s foreign ministry has argued that the US is meddling in regional affairs, exacerbating tensions among neighboring countries. The House committee underscored the critical need for ongoing funding to bolster Philippine maritime law enforcement capabilities, suggesting that any reductions could undermine US national security interests.
The letter, signed by Representatives Greg Stanton, Seth Moulton, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, references near-collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels that brought the possibility of invoking the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the US into play. In 2023, the Philippines successfully advocated for language in the treaty to specify US defense obligations in the South China Sea, broadening the extent of protection against potential aggression in the region.
In essence, the committee’s recommendation presents a crucial call to action for US policymakers to provide adequate resources for the Philippines as a counterbalance to China’s ongoing and escalated maritime threats, reaffirming the significance of US-Philippine relations in maintaining stability in the Asia-Pacific.
