US promises ‘iron-strong’ defense support for Philippines amid tensions in China

China should end its incursions in the West Philippine Sea as a word of honor to the United States, which has once again pledged “ironclad” defense support to the country in light of escalating tensions in the disputed waterway.

Veteran lawmaker Rufus Rodriguez made the call on Saturday following reports of top US diplomat Antony Blinken’s recent pledge to support the Philippines in its long-standing maritime dispute with China.

In his second visit to China in less than a year, Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (Beijing time), during which he discussed, among other things, the naval maneuver in the South China Sea, which overlaps with the WPS, and reiterated US positions . ‘rock-solid’ support for the Philippines, their long-time treaty ally in Asia.

“I have made clear that while the U.S. will continue to de-escalate tensions, our defense commitments to the Philippines remain ironclad,” Blinken said during a meeting with China’s top leaders.

Blinked said the US and China have reached a consensus to maintain and strengthen lines of communication in dealing with their differences, to “avoid any miscommunication, any misunderstandings (and) any miscalculations.”

Rodriguez, a staunch critic of China, recognized the US commitment to the Philippines and emphasized that China could only be true to its word with America by ceasing its dangerous actions in the hotly contested WPS.

“That is the only way Beijing can avoid miscalculations with the US, which is obliged under the treaty to defend the Philippines,” Rodriguez satisfied, adding that China has also occupied the maritime areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone , must give up. some of which have already been militarized by the Chinese.

Moreover, he pointed out that China should abandon Scarborough Shoal, or the Bajo de Masinloc, to the fishermen of Zambales and Pangasinan, which it seized in 2012, and stop harassing supply missions to BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine military outpost in Ayungin Shoal near Palawan in the Philippines. WPS.

Rodriguez reiterated that Scarborough Shoal and Ayungin Shoal are within the Philippine 200-mile EEZ, and China should drop its false jurisdictional claim.

“There is no doubt that these are within our exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is clear that Beijing must stop its intrusion into our EEZ, including the WPS, and its intimidation of our troops and fishermen. stop a possible miscalculation with the US,” added Rodriguez, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

China has territorial claims in almost the entire SCS, which overlap with the WPS, despite a 2016 arbitration award that found its claim of sovereignty unfounded.

The ruling confirmed the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone in the WPS.

Chinese ships are blatantly ignoring this verdict by continuously hitting the Philippine supply boats, adding to a series of previous attacks that have included military-grade laser targeting and boat ganging.

U.S. President Joe Biden has vowed that the U.S. defense commitment to the Philippines is rock-solid and that any attack on Philippine aircraft, ships or forces will invoke the mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.