US condemns China's 'dangerous' conduct, backs Philippines over second Thomas Shoal standoff

Manila, Sep 27 (UNI) The United States on Sunday strongly condemned what it called "dangerous blocking and other irresponsible maneuvers" by Chinese naval and coast guard vessels that threatened a collision with a Philippine vessel and prevented a "lawful and routine resupply mission" to second Thomas Shoal on September 24. US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton said Washington "stand[s] by" its Philippine allies and praised their "professionalism and restraint", while calling on the China Coast Guard and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to halt "escalatory tactics" that threaten freedom of navigation and a free and open Indo-Pacific. "The United…