South China Sea: US troop aid may reassure Philippines but will prod China, analysts say

The deployment of American troops to aid the Philippines in the South China Sea may be a nod to Washington’s commitment to Manila, and might fend off further assertions from China in the disputed waterway, according to analysts.

But they said the move would also harden perceptions in China that the United States was “deeply” involved in the territorial disputes between the two neighbours, and warned there might be harsh response from Beijing.

On Tuesday while in the Philippines, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed US troops had been deployed to Task Force Ayungin, a reference to the Philippines’ name for the contested Second Thomas Shoal.

Philippine media quoted a US embassy spokesman as saying the task force improved US-Philippine “coordination and interoperability” by allowing US forces to support Philippine military activities in the South China Sea.

“This initiative aligns with multiple lines of cooperation between US and Philippine forces … in addition to our long-standing shared efforts to address regional challenges, foster stability and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” he said.