TENSIONS over Taiwan are expected to be on the agenda when US Vice President Kamala Harris meets President Marcos Jr. next week, Manila’s ambassador to Washington said yesterday.
“I’m sure they will touch on the Taiwan situation,” Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez told Reuters by telephone, adding that the Philippines wants to play a role in peaceful co-existence between the United States and China.
Harris is likely to give Marcos a “fairly good briefing” on the three-hour meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of this week’s summit of the G20 group of countries in Indonesia, Romualdez said.
Beijing has long said it would bring the self-governed island of Taiwan, which it views as an inalienable part of China, under its control and has not ruled out the use of force to do so. It has frequently accused the US in recent years of encouraging Taiwan independence.
“What happens in Taiwan, it will affect the entire Asean region. If there is a conflict that happens in Taiwan, nobody is going to be spared,” Romualdez said. “The Philippines is part of this whole equation.”
Harris’ trip marks her second to Asia in three months and the first to the Philippines.
It will include a stop on the islands of Palawan on the edge of the disputed South China Sea in a move that may be interpreted by Beijing as a rebuke.
Beijing claims some territories in the waters off Palawan and much of the South China Sea, citing their own historical maps. A 2016 international arbitration ruling, however, said the Chinese claims had no legal basis in a victory for Manila that has yet to be enforced.
Harris is the highest-ranking US official to visit the Southeast Asian nation since it elected Marcos, the son of the late strongman who Washington helped to flee into exile in Hawaii during a 1986 “people power” uprising.
In August, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Marcos to affirm US commitment to the defense of the Philippines, its long-time treaty ally.
“All of these visits are clearly an indication of how serious they see our relationship with the United States as more important than ever because of what’s happening in this side of the world,” Romualdez said.
The Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said Harris will be boarding one of its ships during her visit to Palawan Tuesday next week.
Harris will be welcomed aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua by PCG Deputy Commandant for Operations Vice Adm. Rolando Punzalan Jr., PCG District Palawan Commander Capt. Christopher Meniado and BRP Teresa Magbanua skipper Capt. Erwin Tolentino.
PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said Harris will be given a briefing on the PCG’s current maritime operations in Palawan.
“This will occur after the vessel tour onboard one of the two biggest PCG vessels to date,” the PCG said in a statement.
Asked if the briefing will also deal with the PCG operations in the disputed West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea, Balilo said: “Definitely.”
Palawan is fronting the West Philippine Sea which is being claimed by the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan. China has been aggressive in its claim over the past years.
Balilo said Harris will give an address during the visit.
“Aside from Coast Guard officers, officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, PNP, Department of Transportation, and local government units will board BRP Teresa Magbanua to listen to the Vice President’s address,” said Balilo.
Balilo said BRP Teresa Magbanua is among the PCG ships operating in the West Philippine Sea. It is one of two multi-role response vessels recently acquired from Japan.
Balilo said BRP Teresa Magbanua will remain docked in Puerto Princesa City while Harris is onboard.
Asked why Harris chose to visit Palawan, Balilo said: “I also do not know the relevance, why Palawan…. As to the reason, we do not know.”
Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said there is no scheduled DND or military engagement with Harris during her visit.
Citing information from the US State Department, Andolong said Harris will just visit the Coast Guard and will talk with Palawan residents.
Asked if the visit will affect the ongoing territorial dispute between the Philippines and other claimants, Andolong said: “In my opinion, it will not.
“We’ve always had visiting dignitaries from the United States who come over anyway, from time to time. We don’t see anything different from that. Also, she will be visiting residents and the Coast Guard, a civilian agency, so we’re not seeing a problem with that,” Andolong said. — Reuters and Victor Reyes
