Filipino soldiers stand at attention near a Philippine flag at Thitu island in the disputed South China Sea, on April 21, 2017. (Erik De Castro/Reuters)
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Top defense officials of the United States and the Philippines have pledged to bolster military cooperation to tackle regional challenges amid growing tensions between China and Taiwan.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Philippine counterpart Jose Faustino in Hawaii on Sept. 30 to discuss reinforcing the U.S.–Philippines mutual defense treaty and improving maritime cooperation.
“By deepening our cooperation and modernizing our alliance, we can help secure the Philippines’ future, tackle regional challenges and promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific,” Austin said at a joint press conference.
Defense and security engagement remains “a key pillar of Philippines–U.S. bilateral relations,” Faustino said while expressing his gratitude to Washington for its willingness to work with the Philippines as “an equal, sovereign partner.”
Faustino said the Philippines is concerned about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing military drills near Taiwan, since more than 130,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan could be in danger if Taiwan is attacked.
“While the Philippines adheres to the One China Policy, we urge all concern parties to exercise restraint and that diplomacy and dialogue must prevail,” he said.
Faustino said the Philippines would continue to update and enhance its contingency plans to ensure the safety of Filipino citizens living in Taiwan.
China increased its military drills around Taiwan following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) visit to Taiwan in August. The CCP claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to conquer it by force if necessary.
The Philippines earlier said that it would allow U.S. forces access to its military bases during a Taiwan conflict if it was deemed “important” to Philippine security.
Any attack on Taiwan could threaten Philippine security because of its proximity to Taiwan, which sits on the north side of the Luzon Strait.
‘Volatile’ Situation in South China Sea
Faustino said that his government would continue to engage in diplomacy with China to address the “volatile situation” in the South China Sea, citing the territorial dispute as “the Philippines’ foremost security concern.”
“We continue to engage with like-minded countries and make sure that the rule of law and the rules-based international order will prevail in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea,” he added.
China has increased its influence in the South China Sea through its artificial islands and military buildup. The CCP claims the majority of the South China Sea under its so-called “nine-dash line” despite competing claims with other nations.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier vowed to uphold The Hague’s 2016 ruling in favor of the Philippines in the South China Sea dispute, saying that he wouldn’t allow China to encroach on “a single square millimeter of our maritime coast.”
Aside from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei all have made overlapping claims in the South China Sea.