US, PH condemn China’s gray-zone activities in South China Sea

THE United States and the Philippines condemned on Thursday (Manila time) China’s gray-zone activities, which they said interfered with the livelihood of Philippine communities and the rights of other claimant states that seek to operate lawfully in the South China Sea consistent with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling. In a telephone conversation, US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin 3rd and Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge Carlito Galvez Jr. also noted with particular concern China’s massing of more than 40 vessels, including a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship, around Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea…