US-Philippines US, Philippines express concern over Chinese military presence in South China Sea
Washington/UNI: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Philippine counterpart, Teodoro Locsin Jr. have expressed concerns over the activities of Chinese military vessels in the South China Sea.
An official communication by the US Department of State said that the two leaders discussed their concerns during a telephonic conversation on Thursday
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, Jr. Both expressed their shared concerns with the massing of PRC [the People's Republic of China] maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea, including at Whitsun Reef, and reiterated their calls on the PRC to abide by the 2016 arbitration ruling issued pursuant to the Law of the Sea Convention,” read the statement.
The US secretary of state reaffirmed the applicability of the 1951 US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty to the situation in the South China Sea.
The statement added that the topic of racial discrimination faced by Asians in the United States was also brought up during the conversation
“Secretary Blinken and Secretary Locsin welcomed enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation on the South China Sea. Secretary Blinken also discussed the Administration’s efforts to combat rising hate and violence against Asian-Americans,” the statement added.
Over the past several years, China has increased its territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea region, overlapping with the interests of several nations.
The United States has repeatedly voiced concern over the Chinese activities in the region and regularly sends its military vessels there.
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