The US reiterated its support for the Philippines on Monday after the South-East Asian country accused China's coastguard of obstructing a resupply mission.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and his Philippine counterpart Eduardo M Ano spoke following two collisions on Sunday near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
“Mr Sullivan emphasised the ironclad US alliance commitments to the Philippines under the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces – to include those of its coastguard – in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea,” a readout of the call said.
Beijing and Manila have traded blame over Sunday's incidents near the atoll, part of the Spratly Islands, with both sides releasing videos to support their accusations.
The collisions occurred during a routine resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed on a navy vessel, the BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded on the shoal to assert Manila's territorial claims.
The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded the Second World War-era BRP Sierra Madre there in 1999 to check China's advance in the area, and the troops stationed depend on regular supply deliveries.
The Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador on Monday to address the issue, publicly blaming Beijing for the maritime collision and calling on China to stop aggressive maritime acts in the area.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry official, meanwhile, said that a Philippine boat had intruded into Chinese waters, news agency Nikkei reported.
The US called the actions by the Chinese coastguard and maritime militia “dangerous and unlawful”.
China and the Philippines have been butting heads in the Pacific in recent years, as Beijing works to assert dominance in the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually.
Despite an international court ruling to the contrary, China has made sweeping claims of sovereignty over the maritime region.
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
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Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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