Philippines defends right to strengthen ties with Japan, U.S.
MANILA: The Philippines’ decision to ramp up ties with Japan and the United States at a recent summit was a “sovereign choice” for the country, its Foreign Ministry said yesterday in response to China’s comments opposing the trilateral meeting.
US President Joe Biden hosted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington last week, where the three leaders jointly expressed their “serious concerns” over China’s actions in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Foreign Ministry said the trilateral grouping would promote peace and economic growth in the Indo-Pacific and should not be considered a threat.
China’s “excessive maritime claims and aggressive behaviour”, on the other hand, were undermining the peace and stability in the region, it said.
“The source of tension in our region is well known to all. China should reflect upon its own actions in the South China Sea.”
Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said it opposed “forming exclusive circles in the region” and any “acts that stoke and drive up tensions”.
Mao accused the US of clinging to the “Cold War mentality” of threatening rivals by coalescing with regional allies.
“Unwarranted references to the Cold War sensationalise the situation and misrepresent the peaceful purpose of the trilateral cooperation,” Manila said in response.
Relations between Manila and Beijing have soured in the past year over maritime run-ins in disputed atolls and shoals in the South China Sea, as well as heated exchanges between officials.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for over US$3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with waters claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
Yesterday, the Philippine Coast Guard said it would participate for the first time in an annual joint military exercise conducted by the country and the US.
More than 16,700 Filipino and American troops will take part in the drills that start on Monday.
The exercises will be focused in the northern and western parts of the archipelago nation, near the potential flashpoints of the South China Sea and Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.
The US has no territorial claim over the waters or features, but regularly conducts patrols there.
The US has been deepening its defence cooperation with regional allies, including the Philippines, as it seeks to counter China’s growing assertiveness.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo yesterday said it would be the first time Philippine Coast Guard vessels join the drills dubbed Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog.
The coast guard’s special operations force would also “undertake joint interoperability exercises” with the Philippine Navy and their counterparts from Australia, France and the US.