DIALOGUE | US, Philippines slam China’s ‘provocative’ acts in South China Sea, eye joint maritime activities

April 12, 2023 , 01:57 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(April 12, 2023) – The Philippines and the United States (US) on Wednesday criticized the continued aggressive activities of China in the South China Sea amid its threat to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

In the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington, Department of National Defense head Carlito Galvez Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs chief Enrique Manalo, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reiterated their support for a rules-based international order.

“The secretaries underlined their strong objections to the unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea,” read the joint statement.

Among the incidents cited were the repeated swarming of China’s vessels in different parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS), including Iroquois Reef, Sabina Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal, and Whitsun Reef. These are within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The secretaries also raised concern over the reclamation efforts that China undertakes to expand its presence in the contested waterway, noting that this goes against the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. According to them, China must instead abide by the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016.

“The award, which was constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, is final and legally binding on the parties, and validates the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction with respect to its EEZ and continental shelf,” added the joint statement.

China has repeatedly rejected the claims of other countries over the South China Sea by insisting on its so-called nine-dash line. Aside from the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also has claims over the strategic waterway, where $3 trillion worth of seaborne goods pass annually.

The Philippines and the US are looking to finalize their plans for a joint sailing activity as part of their combined maritime programs.

“Both sides also discussed plans to conduct multilateral maritime activities with other like-minded partners in the South China Sea later this year,” added the secretaries.

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has promised to balance the country’s ties with the US and China by keeping a friend-to-all approach. It is different from the style of his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who pivoted his foreign policy to China.

Starting yesterday, the Philippines and the US conducted the largest Balikatan Exercises. The secretaries affirmed that such types of training are necessary to “strengthen bilateral planning and interoperability to ensure readiness to respond to a range of crises and scenarios.”

They also committed to accelerating the implementation of projects under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which recently added four additional sites.

“The United States expects to have allocated over $100 million by the end of fiscal year 2023 toward infrastructure investments at the existing five EDCA sites and to support swift operationalization of the four new sites,” said the joint statement.

(PM)

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