Philippines Accuses China of Piracy Amid South China Sea Tensions

The Philippines has decided not to invoke its mutual defense treaty with the U.S. after a confrontation with the Chinese coast guard at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, where Chinese personnel reportedly rammed and boarded Philippine navy boats, injuring Filipino personnel and seizing rifles. Philippine officials downplayed the incident, calling it a misunderstanding rather than an armed attack, and emphasized that they are not ready to classify it as such under the treaty terms. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the South China Sea involving multiple nations.