Written by Jaime R. Pilapil, Reporter
Washington has reiterated its commitment to help build up a “minimum credible defense” for the Philippines which is currently at odds with China over disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
The assurance was given by US Pacific Command head Admiral Samuel Locklear 3rd, who visited President Benigno Aquino 3rd in Malacañang on Monday.
“Admiral Locklear reiterated the commitment of the US to help the Philippines establish a minimum credible defense posture,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters.
Also present during the meeting were US Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
Locklear “reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between the US and the Philippines,” Strategic Communications Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang said.
Mr. Aquino and Locklear discussed the West Philippine Sea issue in “broad strokes” with no specific details given, he added.
The Philippines, which has a mutual defense treaty with the United States, has been seeking greater support from Washington after a standoff with China over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in April.
Locklear was due to meet with Filipino defense officials late Monday to discuss “domain awareness” amid a changing security climate, according to the US Department of Defense website.
Armed Forces Chief Jessie Dellosa welcomed Locklear’s visit.
“We are truly honored by Admiral Locklear’s visit, as it reaffirms the strong alliance and the good relations between our armed forces. Coming after our bilateral meeting in Singapore last month, this visit further strengthens our bond and shared history, especially in the light of current regional developments in the Asia-Pacific, and other areas of engagement between our two militaries,” Dellosa said.
Locklear is set to visit the Philippine military headquarters before leaving.
“So what we are looking for is to try to provide [the Philippines] assistance that builds the interoperability of our defense forces over time,” the website quoted him as saying.
He also warned that a possible “miscalculation” in the dispute could threaten regional stability and reiterated that the US and Philippine militaries needed to learn to work together better.
“I’m looking forward to giving the message to the Filipino military and to the leaders there that the United States is a very reliable ally. We want the Filipinos to be a reliable ally to us as well,” he was quoted as saying.
Chinese-Philippine tensions have increased due to the standoff with the Philippines accusing China of “duplicity” and “intimidation” in a recent regional forum in Cambodia.
China claims the entire West Philippine Sea as its historical territory, even up to the coasts of other Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines.
