US DEFENSE Secretary Lloyd Austin III said the harassment faced by Philippines in the West Philippine Sea is “dangerous” as he reiterated the commitment of the United States in helping Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
Austin made the remarks during a meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr last Saturday, on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore.
China has turned aggressive in its claims in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea and has harassed Philippine Coast Guard and civilian vessels in the past months through dangerous maneuvers, water cannoning, and even ramming. These acts of aggression led to injuries to Philippine Navy personnel and damage to Philippine vessels.
“The harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerous – pure and simple. And we all share an interest in ensuring that the South China Sea remains open and free,” the Department of National Defense quoted Austin as saying during the meeting.
“We are beyond friends and allies, we are family. What affects you affects us,” said Austin.
The Shangri-la Dialogue, an annual summit organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies in Singapore, serves as a venue for defense and military leaders, diplomats, and security experts and practitioners around world to engage in discourse on security issues.
President Marcos Jr., who graced the event on Friday as a keynote speaker, denounced the illegal and coercive aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea.
Without naming China, Marcos said the Philippines and Southeast Asian countries have a vision for “peace, stability and prosperity” in the area but this is being undermined by other actors.
“Unfortunately, this vision remains for now a distant reality. Illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdictions,” he said.
Marcos also said attempts to enforce domestic laws and regulations beyond one’s territory and jurisdiction violate international law, exacerbate tension, and undermines regional peace and security.
China recently introduced a new set of regulations, which takes effect on June 15, that calls for the detention of foreigners intruding on its borders. Also, China has also announced a fishing ban in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, from May 1 to September 16.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis.
The DND said Austin opened his discussion with Teodoro by congratulating Marcos for “eloquently laying out the Philippines’ position on the South China Sea.”
Teodoro responded by expressing his “appreciation to the US for supporting President Marcos’ thesis which underscores the rights of small states.”
Teodoro discussed with Austin ongoing efforts of the defense department to upgrade the Philippines’ capabilities in line with its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.
Teodoro also cited the importance of exploring more avenues to further deepen and enhance the alliance of the two countries, especially in the field of cybersecurity and information sharing.
“The US defense chief gave his assurance that the US continues to stand by its commitments under the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty),” the DND said in a statement.
The MDT mandates the US and the Philippines to aid each other in case of an armed attack.
‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’
Teodoro met with five other defense ministers on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue, including Judith Anne Collins of New Zealand who informed Teodoro that her country is “deeply concerned with what is happening in the West Philippine Sea.”
“New Zealand has to engage the Indo-Pacific region,” the DND quoted Collins as saying.
“The Philippines is not the one causing the problem over there,” Teodoro then told Collins.
Teodoro and Collins also discussed “stronger defense cooperation, notably in the areas of engineering and logistics” during their meeting.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas KasÄiÅ«nas offered defense and military training on cybersecurity during his meeting with Teodoro.
Teodoro ordered senior defense officials “to immediately explore areas of cooperation for a possible memorandum of understanding to develop Philippines-Lithuania defense cooperation.”
Teodoro extended his invitation to Lithuanian officials to visit the Philippines.
He also urged Lithuanian seafaring companies to hire Filipino seafarers who he said are among the most skilled in the world.
TIES WITH CANADA, SOUTH KOREA
Teodoro and Canadian defense minister Bill Blair affirmed the “long, enduring friendly relations” of the two countries.
Blair lauded the Philippines for forging defense and security alliances with other countries, including United States, Japan and South Korea.
“Canada has a major role to play in the Indo-Pacific region,” Teodoro said in return.
Teodoro told his South Korean counterpart, Shin Won-Sik, that the Philippines values the 75 years of defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
“We look forward to the future of South Korea-Philippine relations,” he said.
Teodoro thanked Shin for South Korea’s support to the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea issue.
Shin expressed South Korea’s desire to foster stronger and forward-looking defense and security relations with the Philippines.
‘AREAS OF MUTUAL INTEREST’
Teodoro and Singaporean defense minister Ng Eng Hen reaffirmed “the broad-based bilateral defense and security relations” of the two countries.
Teodoro and Ng also vowed “to further strengthen their cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as regional security.”
“We value your voice in regional and multilateral forums,” Ng told Teodoro.
In response, Teodoro said: “We need to cooperate more on areas of mutual interest.”
Also on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue, Teodoro also met Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission for a Stronger Europe in the World.
Teodoro told Fontelles that the Philippines “needs EU’s support in multilateral forums.”
Fontelles said EU is willing to assist the Philippines in the field of maritime security and cybersecurity
“We have to do more in this part of the world. Let us do more than courtesy visits,” Fontelles said.
‘HIGH POINT’
Teodoro met yesterday with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles also in Singapore.
Marles said the defense and security relations of the two countries are at their “high point.”
The countries have a standing Status of Visiting Forces Agreement signed in 2007 and ratified by the Philippine Senate five years later.
“Our relations with the Philippines are at their high point. We very much welcome this development,” Marles told Teodoro.
Teodoro thanked Marles for his assessment of the two countries’ relations.
Teodoro told the Australian defense chief that he is looking forward to bringing the relations of the Philippines and Australia to “greater heights” as they jointly cooperate in strengthening the rules-based international order.
The two recalled their commitments during their meeting with their counterpart from the US and Japan last May in Hawaii. During the Hawaii meeting, the four defense chiefs agreed to strengthen cooperation amid the escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea and the broader South China Sea.
GUNS?
BEIJING — Chinese state media said on Sunday that personnel on a Philippine ship pointed guns at China’s Coast Guard in disputed waters of the South China Sea last month.
At least two personnel on the Philippine vessel near the Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) were carrying guns on deck, pointing them in the direction of China’s Coast Guard, CCTV said in a social media post.
An accompanying 29-second video appeared to show a masked man momentarily holding up a blurred black object that resembled a rifle.
CCTV said the alleged incident occurred during a Philippine mission to supply troops. The troops are stationed on a rusting warship that Manila grounded in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claims.
The Philippine navy, coast guard and National Security Council, as well as the country’s embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment. — With Reuters
