Washington, US

United States President Joe Biden is set to warn China this week over its growing belligerent movements in the South China Sea during his scheduled summits with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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According to the Financial Times report, two high-ranking US officials said that Biden is expected to voice grave concerns over the ongoing situation surrounding the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed submerged reef within the Spratly Islands.

The officials stated that Biden would emphasise that the Sierra Madre is covered under the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty and that the US president expressed “deep concern” when he had a telephonic conversation with Xi last week.

“China is underestimating the potential for escalation. We’ve tried to make that clear in a series of conversations . . . that our mutual defence treaty covers Philippine sailors and ships and by extension . . . the Sierra Madre,” the Financial Times quoted one of the officials as saying.

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“China needs to examine its tactics or risk some serious blowback,” they added. 

Biden held his first direct talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, since their meeting in November, where the US president emphasised "the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea," the White House said in a statement.

Also read: Philippines vows countermeasures against attacks by Chinese coastguard; 'will not be cowed into silence'

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Xi, after the phone call, stated that the diplomatic ties between the United States and China have started to stabilise. However, he also warned that there were chances that both countries could "slide into conflict or confrontation," as per China's official Xinhua news agency.

Beijing patrols the South China Sea

Meanwhile, China’s military conducted joint air and sea “combat patrols” in the disputed South China Sea, on Sunday (Apr 7) as the United States held its first joint military drills with the Philippines, Japan and Australia. 

“The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army will conduct a joint air and sea combat patrol in the South China Sea on April 7,” said Southern Theatre Command in a surprising announcement on its WeChat account, on Sunday morning. 

The statement indicated that the patrols were conducted in response to the joint naval exercises by the US and its allies in the South China Sea. The PLA, in its brief statement, added “All military activities that disrupt the South China Sea and create hotspots are under control.”

(With inputs from agencies)