Washington [US], March 20: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday assured the Philippines of continued US "ironclad" support amid rising tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea.
Blinken, who was in Manila for a two-day visit, said the disputed sea was an important waterway not only for the Philippines, but for the region, the United States and the world.
"These waterways are critical to the Philippines, to its security, to its economy," he told a press conference in Manila after a meeting with Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo. "They're also critical to the interests of the region, the Unite States and the world."
"That's why we stand with the Philippines and stand by our ironclad defence commitments, including under the mutual defense treaty," he added, referring to the 1951 defence pact, which provides both countries mutual military assistance in the event of an external attack.
Blinken was scheduled to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr later in the day.
Last year, Manila and Washington also signed an expanded defence agreement and designated four new locations for US military bases in the region. The Philippines is Washington's oldest treaty partner in the region.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized Blinken's statements. The US is not a party to the South China Sea issues and has no right to interfere, said spokesman Lin Jian in Beijing.
The military co-operation between Washington and Manila must not violate China's sovereignty. China would continue to take the necessary measures to defend it, he said.
The Philippines has been dealing with increasing aggression from China in the disputed South China Sea, where Chinese vessels recently blocked Philippine boats bringing supplies to troops stationed at a marooned navy ship.
At least four Philippine navy personnel were injured when water cannons from Chinese boats shattered the windshield one of the two supplies boats, while a Chinese ship collided with a Philippine coast guard vessel.
On the eve of Blinken's visit in Manila, Washington announced a summit among the leaders of the United States, the Philippines and Japan on April 11 to discuss various issues, including peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Blinken said the summit was part of efforts to boost partnerships and alliances, but stressed that these are not directed against anyone or anything in particular.
"In the case with the trilateral work with the Philippines and Japan, there's a very affirmative agenda, but again it's not design against anyone," he said. "It's in service of realizing a common vision for the future for the benefit of all these countries."
There has been a dispute between Beijing and Manila for decades over the resource-rich area of widely scattered reefs and islands to the west of the Philippines and far south of China.
The countries' patrolling coastguards regularly carry out dangerous manoeuvres there. China claims practically the entire South China Sea for itself. However, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also claim territories there.
Source: Qatar Tribune