The Philippines, a former US colony, is seen as central to Washington’s efforts to counter China’s more and more assertive insurance policies within the South China Sea and in direction of Taiwan.
US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday visited the Philippine navy’s Western Command on the island of Palawan, subsequent to the South China Sea, the place he reiterated Washington’s commitment to the Philippines under their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
“People are profoundly dedicated to the defence of the Philippines,” Austin mentioned in a joint press convention together with his Manila counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro.
“Our dedication to the Mutual Protection Treaty is ironclad. Let me say once more that the Mutual Protection Treaty applies to armed assaults on both of our personal armed forces, plane, or public vessels, together with our coastguards, anyplace within the South China Sea,” Austin mentioned.
The Philippines and China have been embroiled in repeated disputes the previous few years over contested territory in the South China Sea which have turned the strategic waterway into a possible flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.
China claims sovereignty over virtually all the South China Sea, a conduit for greater than US$3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce, placing it at odds with its Southeast Asian neighbours.
In 2016 the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration within the Hague mentioned China’s claims had no authorized foundation, siding with the Philippines which introduced the case. China rejects that ruling, however Washington, which helps it, says that call is binding.
