MANILA – Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo spoke with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Thursday regarding China’s “escalatory actions” in the West Philippine Sea.
According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, the two top diplomats talked about China’s “dangerous and irresponsible actions” to deny the Philippines’ resupply mission last June 17.
“Secretary Blinken emphasized that PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) actions undermine regional peace and stability and underscored the United States’ ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said.
The Chinese Coast Guard has reportedly obstructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ humanitarian rotation and resupply operations at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
The Chinese allegedly employed physical attacks, bladed weapons, blaring sirens and blinding strobe lights on the Filipino troops.
Manalo and Blinken also exchanged views on how to build on the momentum from recent high-level bilateral engagements between the two states “on issues of shared concern”.
Britain, Canada and the United States have condemned China’s actions, which occurred as China new coast guard rules allowing it to detain trespassers without trial took effect on June 15.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, which includes the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines maintains a warship, Sierra Madre, beached in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claims, with a small crew.
Relations between Manila and Beijing have soured under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with Manila pivoting back towards the United States which supports the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China./PN
