PH can’t afford another ‘tension’
Amid Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, looming crisis
WITH the many challenges being faced by the Philippines, including the COVID-19, Manila “can ill afford any further escalation of tensions in the region”, the top Philippine diplomat said yesterday.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo made this remark during a virtual meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying, “… And we can ill afford any further escalation of tensions in the region, because we are already facing a number of challenges getting our economy back to work, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Countries in Asia have expressed deep concern over the tensions in the Taiwan Strait following the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan last Tuesday.
The trip prompted retaliatory actions from Beijing by conducting live-fire drills in six locations near Taiwan.
Blinken, for his part, said the US is determined to act responsibly to avoid crisis, focusing its efforts on things that will benefit the people.
“We have to deal with some of the challenges to peace and security that we’re seeing around the world, including in our own region. And the United States, for its part, is determined to act responsibly so that we avoid crisis, we avoid conflict, and we’re able to focus our energies and attentions on the things that matter most to our people,” Blinken said.
The Secretary of State reiterated the US’ ironclad commitment to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and reaffirmed that an armed attack on the Philippines would invoke the Treaty.
“We affirmed that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense treaty,” he said.
Blinken added, “we are also partner with Filipino fishermen and scientific researchers to preserve and protect the Philippines’ precious maritime resources, which are under threat from illegal fishing and environmental destruction by outside actors. We always stand by our partners. it’s important to underscore that because of what’s happening north of here in the Taiwan Strait.”
The Secretary said the US needs its partnership, cooperation, and coordination with the Philippines more than ever as they deal with some of the challenges to peace and security worldwide, including in their respective region.
