US President Donald Trump has committed to raising the Philippines' concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in September, following a phone call with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 23. The discussion focused on global, economic, and security situations, with Trump's assurance coming after recent tensions in the South China Sea. This phone call was a follow-up to a meeting between Marcos and US State Secretary Marco Rubio on July 22, where Marcos updated Rubio on critical incidents in the region.
The commitment from Trump follows a confrontation on July 20 at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, where Chinese Coast Guard personnel allegedly injured two Filipino soldiers during a resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre. One soldier sustained a head injury, and another was also hurt. The Philippines has lodged multiple protests against Beijing over the incident, which China claims was instigated by Manila. Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, a claim supported by the 2016 Arbitral Award, which China does not recognize.
President Marcos conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu on the injured soldiers and provided them with ₱150,000 ($2,550) each. The Philippines has also sought a "reset" in its relations with China to prevent future confrontations, as expressed during a meeting between Marcos and Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan. Despite a prior provisional agreement concerning resupply missions, Manila denies China's claim that it prohibited construction materials, stressing that such an agreement would not concede the Philippines' sovereignty. This incident is one of several recent escalations, including a 2024 episode where a Filipino soldier lost a thumb, prompting fears of triggering the Mutual Defense Treaty with the US.
