https://sputniknews.com/20220806/blinken-talks-up-extraordinary-ties-with-philippines-amid-china-tensions-1099207173.html
Blinken speaks of ‘extraordinary’ ties with the Philippines amid tensions in China
Blinken speaks of ‘extraordinary’ ties with the Philippines amid tensions in China
The US Secretary of State arrived in the Philippines on Friday evening for his very first visit to the country amid the regional crisis… 06.08.2022, Sputnik International
2022-08-06T13:18+0000
2022-08-06T13:18+0000
2022-08-06T13:37+0000
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Antony Blinken sought to woo his hosts during his visit to the Philippines, hailing the “extraordinary”, “strong” and “important” relationship between Washington and its former colony. “The people-to-people bonds between us are almost unique, and that’s something we value immensely in the United States, just as I know you value it here. But we also work together as partners in many different areas. , especially economically, and of course the alliance is strong and I believe can grow even stronger,” the secretary said. The diplomat did not mention China in public. Marcos, but discussed it at length during a press conference alongside Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo later in the day.During the event, Blinken highlighted the bitter fishing dispute between the Philippines and China, calling it a “direct threat to the livelihoods of thousands, tens of thousands of people engaged in fishing to support themselves and their families”, as well as a threat to fish not. stocks and the environment. For his part, President Marcos hailed the “special relationship” between his country and the United States. “We are very pleased that you were able to find the time to pass through the Philippines so that we have the continued contact that the Philippines and the United States have had over – for over a hundred years. It is particularly timely, your arrival here. As we know, in this region there have been very many problems,” Marcos said. During his meeting with Foreign Minister Manalo, Blinken “reiterated” “ironclad commitment” of the United States in favor of a common defense, “and reaffirmed that an armed attack on the Philippines’ armed forces, state ships or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke the mutual defense commitments of the United States. United under this treaty, assistance and the transfer of U.S. defense materiel as part of those ties to areas claimed by China, forging bilateral defense agreements and holding talks on the possible deployment of US military assets, including long-range missiles, in the region. Beijing has lambasted Washington – which has no formal claim to the waters of the South China Sea, over its activities, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying last month that the region was not a “safari park”. for “extraterritorial powers” seeking to destabilize the situation. Manila has sought maneuver between the United States and China amid an escalating Cold War between economic and military superpowers. Last month, President Marcos said the Philippines wanted to ‘increase the scope’ of ties with China beyond the South China Sea dispute, and did not rule out military exchanges with powerful neighbor Manila. . The waters and islands that dot the South China Sea are disputed. by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia, as well as Taiwan, with actors pushing competing claims to maritime areas and their wealth. The United States became embroiled in the dispute in 2010, when then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton identified the South China Sea as a “matter of American national interest” and began to dispute China’s claims. China condemned the behavior of the United States and called on Washington to allow countries in the region to resolve tensions independently using a dispute resolution mechanism known as the ASEAN-China code of conduct. This document has yet to be implemented despite two decades of negotiations, with US diplomacy actively engaged in efforts to sabotage it.
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The US Secretary of State arrived in the Philippines on Friday evening for his first-ever visit to the country amid heightened regional tensions following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan last week.
Antony Blinken sought to woo his hosts during his visit to the Philippines, hailing the “extraordinary”, “strong” and “important” relationship between Washington and its former colony.
“The people-to-people bond between us is almost unique, and it’s something we value immensely in the United States, just as I know you value it here. But we also work together as partners in many different areas, especially economically, and of course the alliance is strong and I believe can grow even stronger,” the secretary said.
Blinken also addressed tensions over Taiwan, accusing China of “increasingly destabilizing and potentially dangerous actions” towards the island, and saying that Beijing “over the past few years” has moved away. “from a peaceful resolution of disputes to do so in a coercive manner”. and, potentially, with force.
For his part, President Marcos hailed the “special relationship” between his country and the United States.
“We are very happy that you were able to find the time to pass through the Philippines so that we have the continued contact that the Philippines and the United States have had for over a hundred years. It is particularly timely, your arrival here. As we know, in this region there have been many, many problems,” Marcos said.
“The past few days have raised – highlighted some of them – your House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit coming here – really just – I don’t think, to be perfectly frank – I don’t think it has increased intensity; it has just shown how intense the conflict was. In fact, it’s been at this level for quite a while now, but we kind of got used to the idea and put it aside,” the president added.
During his meeting with Foreign Minister Manalo, Blinken “reiterated” the United States’ “ironclad commitment” to common defense, “and reaffirmed that an armed attack on the armed forces , public vessels or aircraft of the Philippines in the South China Sea would invoke the American Mutual”. defense commitments under this treaty.
Manalo called defense ties with the United States a “pillar of our bilateral relationship” and highlighted joint training, exercises, technical assistance and the transfer of U.S. defense materiel as elements of those ties.
Washington has sought to strengthen ties with the Philippines and other countries in the South China Sea, by strengthening security relations, organizing so-called “freedom of navigation” naval patrols in maritime areas claimed by China, concluding bilateral defense agreements and conducting talks on the possible deployment of American military assets, including long-range missiles, in the region.
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