The United States is a \u201cstabilizing force\u201d in the disputed South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region, the Philippine defense chief said Friday, adding that Manila was optimistic about a \u201cnew era\u201d of ties with Washington under the Biden presidency.<\/p>\n
Manila likely will keep pursuing an independent foreign policy, but is also expected to prolong a decades-old friendly relationship with the U.S. through dealings with the new administration in Washington, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs for our challenges ahead, the longstanding rivalry between the United States and China will surely continue to test our adeptness in balancing our relations with both countries,\u201d Lorenzana told a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).<\/p>\n
\u201cOn one hand, it is necessary for us to continuously engage with China, not only for our existing cooperation in various areas, but also for the peaceful resolution of our competing claims in the South China Sea,\u201d he said. \u201cOn the other hand, we are mindful of the role of the United States as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific region and a counter-balance to China.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beijing has laid claim to most of the South China Sea using its so-called Nine-Dash Line, which the American government has struck down as frivolous.<\/p>\n
Six other Asian governments \u2013 Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam \u2013 have territorial claims or maritime boundaries that overlap with China. While Indonesia does not regard itself as party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of the waterway that overlap with Indonesia\u2019s exclusive economic zone.<\/p>\n
Lorenzana said he was hoping to forge stronger military ties with the U.S. under the administration of President Joe Biden, who took office on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe year 2021 promises to start a new era for the U.S.-Philippines relations under a new U.S. president who seeks to reclaim America\u2019s status as a world leader,\u201d Lorenzana said. \u201cBeing one of America\u2019s allies in the Indo-Asia Pacific region, the Philippines may benefit from the Biden administration\u2019s anticipated \u2018pivot to Asia\u2019 strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the Philippines welcomed \u201cwith great optimism” the change in leadership in the U.S. government.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter all, the decades-old alliance has endured multiple changes of administrations on both sides amid numerous challenges in the relationship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Upon taking office in 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signaled a shift in foreign policy away from traditional ally Washington and in favor of its rival, China. He made it a priority to appease Beijing even after an international arbitral tribunal ruled that year in Manila\u2019s favor regarding the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
In late 2020, Duterte changed course at an international forum, calling out China over its legal obligations to the Philippines in the waterway.<\/p>\n
On Friday<\/span>, Lorenzana said he expected the appointment of Sung Kim, as acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, would give Washington a \u201cdeeper understanding\u201d of the Philippines. Kim previously served as the U.S. ambassador in Manila.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are hopeful that prudence and proper restraint will be exercised in dealing with other countries\u2019 domestic affairs,\u201d Lorenzana said, noting that the Philippines-U.S. alliance was rooted in its shared democratic commitments.<\/p>\n The defense secretary\u00a0made his remarks a week after China passed a law that allows its coast guard to use force and fire upon ships in waters Beijing considers part of its territory. That move led to a diplomatic protest by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs this week.<\/p>\n A day after China passed the law, a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group deployed to the South China Sea, drawing a response from Beijing.<\/p>\n On Jan. 25, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said \u201cit does no good to regional peace and stability for the United States to frequently send military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea to show off muscles.\u201d<\/p>\n Diplomatic phone call<\/strong><\/p>\n During the Friday forum, the Philippine envoy to the United States said Manila had received assurances from new U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.<\/p>\n Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said Blinken noted that \u201cthe U.S. will stand with claimant countries and reiterated the previous administration\u2019s stance as far as China\u2019s maritime claims are concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n During his first day on the job as America\u2019s top diplomat, Blinken had a phone conversation with Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday where they reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u00a0also underscored that the Mutual Defense Treaty will apply to armed attacks against the Philippines,\u201d Romualdez said, referring to Blinken. \u201cWe welcome this continuation of the U.S.\u2019s strengthened policy as regard to the South China Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n Both secretaries agreed that \u201ca strong U.S.-Philippine alliance is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific region,\u201d even as Blinken stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty \u201cfor the security of both nations, and it\u2019s clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement, U.S. Department of State spokesman Ned Price said Blinken reiterated the position of the United States that Beijing had exceeded the maritime zones that China is permitted to claim as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSecretary Blinken pledged to stand with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of PRC [People\u2019s Republic of China] pressure. The two secretaries committed to continue building upon a relationship founded on shared strategic interests and history, democratic values and strong people-to-people ties,\u201d Price said.<\/p>\n