Blinken lauds ‘extraordinary’ expansion of US defence ties with the Philippines

MANILA – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hailed on March 19 a recent strengthening of defence ties with the Philippines as “extraordinary”, saying they would only grow further, though Washington’s expanding alliances were not aimed at China.

Speaking during a visit to the Philippines, Mr Blinken said China’s actions in the South China Sea have triggered a wider international reaction, and the United States was engaged in intense diplomacy to reaffirm international law.

“We have a shared concern about (China’s) actions that threaten our common vision for a free open Indo-Pacific, including in the South China Sea and in the Philippines exclusive economic zone,” Mr Blinken said at a news conference alongside his Philippine counterpart.

Ties between the Philippines and China have soured

amid repeated spats

over disputed features in the former’s exclusive economic zone, during which Manila has accused China’s coast guard of a policy of aggression.

Beijing, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, has maintained Philippine vessels are intruding in its territory and has repeatedly accused the US of interfering and seeking to stoke regional tensions.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in response that the US had no right to interfere in disputes between Manila and Beijing, and China would take the necessary actions to defend its territory.

“Military cooperation between the United States and the Philippines should not harm China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, let alone be used to prop up the Philippines’ illegal position,” Mr Lin said at a regular news briefing.

The dispute coincides with

a key improvement in military ties

between the Philippines and the US in the past year, with Manila

nearly doubling the number of its bases

accessible to American forces, including three new sites facing Taiwan.

Their

annual military exercises

have widened lately to include joint air and sea patrols over the South China Sea and close to Taiwan, which China has seen as provocations.

‘Ironclad’ commitment

The Philippines and the US are bound by a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty, by which they must defend each other in the event of attack.

In 2023, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr succeeded in pushing Washington to make clear the extent of that security commitment.

Mr Blinken on March 19 stressed that the deal was “ironclad”, adding that it extended to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels and aircraft, including those of its coast guard anywhere in the South China Sea.

He also said economic ties with the US would expand, offering support to Philippine manufacturing with a view to diversifying supply chains.

Last week, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo visited the Philippines and said American companies were set to unveil

more than US$1 billion (S$1.34 billion) of investments

in the country.

Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo said the challenge ahead was how to sustain and further elevate relations with the US, which he thanked for its support over recent altercations with China in the South China Sea.

The meeting came as the White House said President Joe Biden would host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Mr Marcos at a summit in Washington on April 11 to discuss economic ties and the Indo-Pacific.

Mr Blinken said that arrangement was “a very important platform” for peace and building greater stability. “(It) is not designed against anyone, but in service of realising a common vision for the future to the benefit of people in all of our countries.” REUTERS