Blinken reaffirms ‘iron defense pact’ with the Philippines. Series of kidnappings in Nigeria: Another 87 people kidnapped

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has assured the Philippines of continued US support amid rising tensions with China.

The background includes Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea and incidents between Chinese and Philippine ships in the disputed area. The security obligations to the partner are “iron iron,” Blinken said at a joint press conference with his counterpart Enrique Manalo in Manila on Tuesday. “These waterways are vital to the Philippines, its security and its economy,” he said. They are critical to “the interests of the region, the United States, and the world.”

As early as 1951, the two countries had concluded a defense pact that provided for a mutual obligation to provide military assistance in the event of an external attack. Last year, Manila and Washington also identified a comprehensive defense agreement and four new sites for US military bases in the region. The Philippines is Washington’s oldest treaty partner in the region.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized Blinken’s statements. The US is not a party to the South China Sea issues and has no right to interfere, spokesman Lin Jian said in Beijing. Military cooperation between Washington and Manila should not violate China’s sovereignty. China will continue to take necessary measures to defend them, he said.

It wasn’t until early March that another incident occurred in the South China Sea. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, Chinese ships allegedly tried to block a Philippine supply mission. The Chinese are said to have used water cannons, among other things. The National Security Council of the Southeast Asian island nation spoke of dangerous and illegal maneuvers. There have been repeated incidents between the two countries in the disputed region. There has been a decades-long dispute between Beijing and Manila over the resource-rich area of ​​widespread reefs and islands west of the Philippines and far south of China. The state’s patrolling coast guards regularly perform dangerous maneuvers there. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own. But the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also claim territory there. (rbu/sda/dpa)