Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on “issues of mutual concern”, including the ongoing tension in the South China Sea, the US State Department said Thursday.
Manalo’s call with Blinken came after he said he had a “frank and candid” call with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on the territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing.
During their call, Blinken assured Manalo of the United States’ ironclad commitment to fulfill its obligations to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty.
“Secretary Blinken and Secretary Manalo also exchanged ideas on how to reinforce US-Philippines cooperation in the coming year, building on President Marcos’ official working visit to Washington, D.C., this past May,” the US State Department added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to provide details on Manalo’s call with Blinken.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), meanwhile, slammed Chinese claims of a hidden agenda on the part of Manila’s allies in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute.
“While it is true that there is no such thing as free lunch, unlike China, our allies do not take away our lunch especially if it is rightfully ours,” said PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela in a post on his X page.
Tarriela’s post was a reaction to an editorial article of the Chinese government-supported publication Global Times, which said the Philippines should remain vigilant against the “enthusiasm” displayed by the US and other countries.
“There is no such thing as a free lunch, and behind the US’ ‘enthusiasm’ lies a hidden agenda,” the paper said.
The PCG official also said that the Philippines will keep its vigilance against the “bullies” and will continue to welcome countries that support its interests.
Tarriela also called out the Chinese for blaming the actions of the Philippines as well as the US for the rising tensions in the South China Sea.
China’s actions, he said, are the “main source” of the conflict in the contested region.
“Until now, the [People’s Republic of China] has not come to terms with the fact that their fabricated narratives and baseless claims about the alleged aggressive actions of the Philippines are not that convincing,” Tarriela said.
“Instead, they weaken their own argument that the US is the primary instigator of the rising tensions in the South China Sea,” he added.
Recently, Chinese state media People’s Daily also published a commentary accusing the Philippines of infringing on China’s territory, spreading false information, and colluding with other countries to cause trouble.
On Thursday, China said it is committed to resolving its maritime dispute with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation, but warned that it will not turn a blind eye to repeated “provocations and harassment” by Manila.
The Philippine government earlier this month condemned China for its coast guard and maritime militia repeatedly firing water cannons at Manila’s resupply boats, causing “serious engine damage” to one, and “deliberately” ramming another.
In a press conference in Beijing, Wu Qian, a ministry spokesperson, called the accusations “purely false hype”, saying the Philippine side insisted on sending vessels to “intrude into” waters near a disputed shoal and “proactively rammed” a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.
Wu said the China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures that were justified and legitimate.
Relations soured between Manila and Beijing over recent incidents in the South China Sea, including charges that China rammed a ship this month carrying Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.
The Philippines includes areas of the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as part of the West Philippine Sea.