US vows to be a good PH ally
A high-ranking United States (US) official on Thursday assured the Philippines that the US will be a good ally should Pagasa Island in the disputed West Philippine Sea will be forcibly taken.
“I really don't want to address hypotheticals but I think there should be no misunderstanding or lack of clarity on the spirit and the nature of our commitment,” US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver said.
“We'll be a good ally, and we'll help the Philippines respond accordingly and beyond that I wouldn't get into specifics,” he added.
“We'll help the Philippines
respond accordingly,” Schriver added, declining to give further details.
Pag-asa, is the second largest naturally occurring island in the Spratly sand home to Kalayaan town in Palawan. It is inhabited by over 300 people.
Schriver met with Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Thursday and both discussed full range of bilateral defense and military issues.
The US official, who is making his first visit to the Philippines as US assistant secretary of defense, said his visit to the country serves as a good opportunity for him to meet with the leaders of the country.
He said among the topics discussed with Secretary Lorenzana, include counter-terrorism, regional security in the South China or West Philippine Sea, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization efforts.
“We discussed the full range of our bilateral defense and military relationship so we talked about our ongoing interest in counter-terrorism cooperation, regional security such as the South China Sea, future plans of the AFP to modernize and how we can support them. So it was a very broad discussion ,” Sch rivers aida she spoke to reporters at the US embassy in Manila.
“I have been here in previous capacities but (the) first time since I assumed this responsibility. So this is a good opportunity for me to come and meet with the leadership here, the Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and government officials to discuss regional security issues, bilateral relationship and alliance, how we can support the goals of the government here in Manila,” he added.
Schriver, who will be staying in the country for two days, saidthat the US wants to be a partner that's valued by contributing things that are important to the government here.
He added that they have a number of important engagements coming up before the end of the year and is looking forward to the rest of his visit.
On disputed sea Schriver, in the same interview, insisted that the US will fly/sail and operate where international law allows them.
He made the comment after a US plane was warned by China while flying over a highly disputed island in the South China Sea.
“We'll fly/sail and operate where international law allows, if queried by any particular party. Our guidance will, if we're operating legally, we'll continue to operate legally and lawfully,” Schriver said.
“So we've seen an increase in this kind of challenge from China, not only directed at us but others and we, I think, we need to be consistent and the Chinese need to understand that this kind of challenge will not result in a change of our behavior. We'll not allow them to rewrite the rules of the road or change international law,” he added.
Schriver said the US has routine operations in the South China Sea and the plane that flew there is part of the routine flight.
He also stressed that the Freedom of Navigation Patrols (FONOPs) are part of an overall approach to the South China Sea
The Chinese military ordered a US Navy plane flying over a highly disputed island in the South China Sea last week to “leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding,” according to CNN.
A reporter for the network was given a rare look at the Chinese government’s militarization of the sea, where it built garrisons with five-story buildings, radar facilities, power plants and even runways.
The P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance jet’s crew received six warnings that it was inside Chinese territory as it flew 16,500 feet above the installation.
The aircraft flew past four artificial islands where China has built up fortifications: Subi Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Johnson Reef and Mischief Reef, according to CNN.
On Subi Reef, the plane’s sensors picked up 86 vessels, including Chinese coast guard ships, while on Fiery Cross Reef, rows of hangars stood alongside a long runway.