US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken receives new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Meets. He praised the “unbreakable alliance” between the two countries at a time of rising tensions with China.
“The alliance is strong, and I think it can get even stronger,” the US Secretary of State told Marcus Jr., who took office on June 30. The United States has a security agreement with the Philippines and supports the former colony in territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.
Blinken told reporters that Washington was committed to the defense pact. “We always stand behind our partners. It is important to highlight that given what is happening further north here in the Taiwan Strait.”
The visit of the US Secretary of State to the archipelago comes at a time when China The largest military maneuvers in its history It is kept around Taiwan, an island 400 km from the Philippines. The exercises come in response to the visit of prominent US politician Nancy Pelosi to the island.
In a hypothetical conversation with his Filipino counterpart Enrique Manalo, Blinken said the United States was “determined to act responsibly” to avoid a crisis. “Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is vital not only to Taiwan, but also to the Philippines and many other countries,” Blinken said.
For his part, Manalo said the Philippines cannot afford to further escalate tensions in the region as the country faces “big challenges” after the coronavirus pandemic. “We continue to look to the major powers to help de-escalate the situation and maintain peace,” she said.
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