Tensions Escalate as US and China Clash in South China Sea

Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated in the South China Sea, with Chinese ships blocking and colliding with Philippine vessels near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. The incident has drawn the United States into the region, as it stands with its Philippine allies against China's "dangerous and unlawful actions." China's foreign ministry condemned the US statement, while the US State Department referenced a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines. Experts warn that while tensions may not boil over immediately, the region is inching closer to a potential conflict, as China seeks to push the US out of the area and assert its maritime power.