THE PHILIPPINES asked for US military intervention in a territorial dispute with China yesterday.

Manila has protested at Beijing’s refusal to allow Filipino military craft to cross its territorial waters in the South China Sea to reach the Second Thomas Shoal.

China is one of six states that claims sovereignty over the atoll in the Spratly Islands, which are militarily occupied by the Philippines.

Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said US Pacific Command head Admiral Harry Harris had agreed to send military aircraft to escort Filipino vessels as a deterrent to interception by Chinese coastguard ships.

“If there are Americans flying around there, we won’t be troubled,” Mr Gazmin said. “We need to be helped in our resupply missions. The best way they could assist is through their presence.”