Article author:
Reuters
David Brunnstrom and Karen Lema
MANILA — Secretary of State Anthony Brinken promised the Philippines on Saturday that the United States would stand up for defense if attacked in the South China Sea. . He seeks to allay concerns about the extent of US commitments to mutual defense treaties.
At the Manila meeting, where discussions over rising US-China tensions over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan dominated, Blinken said the 70-year defense pact with the Philippines was " It is an iron wall,” he said.
"An armed attack against Philippine forces, government vessels and aircraft would evoke the United States' mutual defense commitments under that treaty," Blinken said at a press conference.
"The Philippines is an invaluable friend, partner and ally to the United States." was. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the son of a late strongman who helped Washington defect to Hawaii in the 1986 "People Power" uprising, ending his 20-year rule.
In his opening address to Blinken, Marcos tried to downplay the diplomatic escalation over Taiwan, believing that Pelosi's visit "did not add to the intensity" of the already precarious situation. Stated.
"We've been at that level for quite some time, and we kind of got used to the idea," Marcos said.
The Philippines is the fulcrum of the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China, and Marcos said he faced the difficult task of balancing relations between the two great powers. I'm here.
He will also face domestic pressure to confront China's leadership without angering them in the South China Sea.
Relations between the United States and the Philippines have been shaken by the predecessor Rodrigo Duterte's prelude to China, his famously anti-American policy. Rhetoric and threats to downgrade their military ties.
On Saturday, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said President Joe Biden had invited Marcos to Washington and said both sides were considering a suitable date.
Marcos was accused of court-ordered contempt for his refusal to cooperate with a Hawaiian court that ordered the Marcos family to return his $2 billion fortune in 1995. has not been to the United States for more than ten years. Losing the nation's wealth to victims of abuse by a state controlled by his father.
Marcos, his Jr. and his mother Imelda also faced a $353 million fine. ing.
The US Embassy in Manila said the head of state has diplomatic immunity.
Manalo said Washington was an important ally, but when it came to nearby Taiwan, he told Brinken of the Philippines that he was "looking to great powers to help calm the seas." Told.
"We cannot afford to escalate the tension any further," he said. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Writing by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty and Mike Harrison)
