China’s ambassador to the Philippines last week caused a stir when he accused the Southeast Asian nation of “stoking the fire” of regional tensions by offering expanded military base access to the United States, which he accused of interfering.
The Philippines this month announced the location of four additional US military bases, three of which are facing north towards Taiwan, which China claims as its own.
Manila’s foreign minister said relations with Beijing are more than just their differences over the South China Sea, which sees the passage of about US$3 trillion worth of ship-borne goods annually and is believed to be rich in minerals and oil and gas deposits.
“These differences should not prevent us from seeking ways of managing them effectively, especially with respect to enjoyment of rights of Filipinos, especially fishermen,” Manalo said, adding that their livelihoods are undermined by incidents and actions in the waterway.
Since Marcos took office in June, the Philippines has filed dozens of diplomatic protests at the presence of Chinese fishing vessels and what it calls China’s “aggressive actions” in the strategic waterway.
Marcos is set to meet US President Joe Biden in Washington in May, days after more than 17,000 Philippine and US soldiers complete their largest-ever joint military drills in the Southeast Asian country, drawing criticism from Beijing.
Source: CNA
