Envoy calls for ‘stable’ Manila-washington ties
AFORMER American envoy to the Philippines on Wednesday urged Manila to develop consistency in its diplomatic and political ties with Washington.
“I have to say to my friends in the Philippines who I adore that you’ve gotta be careful. You’ve been ambivalent about the way you approach your defense relationships with the United States and with your international engagements and policies towards China,” said Ambassador Frank Wisner in an online forum on “The South China Sea: Geopolitical and Environmental Crisis” organized by the I(x) Investments and co-hosted by the Philippines Foundation.
Wisner said there is a lesson to be learned in dealing with China as he recalled former President Gloria Arroyo did some “fancy footwork in Beijing” but did not succeed. He did not elaborate.
Right now, Wisner said the most important agenda is to give high priority to the military and security cooperation between the two countries. “We need stability between Washington and Manila if we are going to send a consistent signal to our friends in China,” he pointed out.
Wisner said the US and its allies must send a clear message to China that they are taking a multilateral approach on the South China Sea ( West Philippine Sea) issue and, at the same time, build an alliance of nations in the region to ensure a strong partnership.
“We need a stable basis for the treaty. And it does not behoove to move in and out of the security ties with the Philippines to send a steady signal,” he said.
Although the US is thousands of miles away from the South China Sea, Wisner said it is a direct party to the area because of the defense treaty arrangements with the Philippines. “It is not just a super global balance of power but that’s an issue if the US does not carry out its obligations under the treaty arrangements,” he said.
Wisner said he hopes a new administration after the US presidential polls on November 3 will craft a new policy and strategies in dealing with China which would allow the US to face the totality of the problem and set benchmarks.
At the moment, Wisner said he favors stalwart protection of the status quo and tell “China that we don’t accept Chinese sovereignty.” He said the US will also insist on the right of passage and the right of overflight must continue.
He added the US also wants to preserve the internationalization of the South China Sea. “We need to involve other allies in the pursuit of the objective,” he said.