US-CHINA RELATIONS
The US’ growing presence in the region and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea have infuriated China’s leaders in Beijing.
China has accused the US of using the Philippines as a “pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea”.
Earlier on Friday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun met in Singapore on the sidelines of Asia’s premier defence summit.
During the meeting with Dong, Austin underscored the importance of freedom of navigation under international law, especially in the South China Sea, according to a Pentagon statement released after the meeting.
Dong responded by telling Austin that the US was stoking tensions through its military presence in the region, his spokesperson told reporters.
Marcos said tensions between the US and China were destabilising for Southeast Asia, calling on Washington and Beijing to work harder to resolve disputes.
“Their rivalry is constraining the strategic choices of regional states. Their contest is exacerbating flashpoints and has created new security dilemmas,” Marcos said.
“The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage their rivalry in a responsible manner.”
Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes, but tensions have worsened under Marcos, who has insisted the Philippines will not give up a “square inch of our territory”.
Marcos said on Friday that the South China Sea dispute is an issue that goes beyond the Asia-Pacific region.
“The peace and stability of the South China Sea and the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is a world issue,” Marcos said.
“It is not just (about) ASEAN member states. It is quite easy to see that it is in fact the world that has become the stakeholder.”
