US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg. AFP FILE PHOTO
The United States is considering the possibility of holding joint maritime patrols with the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).
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“We do discuss that principle with the Philippines and so I am not discarding that possibility,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said in a forum on Wednesday.
He, however, said that he will not announce any development but said the US will follow what is within the international law.
“I am not going to prejudge how we are going to do it,” he said.
The Philippines has earlier asked the US for joint naval patrols in the South China Sea following China’s test flights in one of the artificial islands where the latter has built a runway.
READ: PH wants to hold naval patrols in South China Sea with US
“I don’t think there are limitations to what the US can do…But we have a deep interest in assuring freedom of navigation in those waters,” Goldberg said.
“I don’t think there are limitations to what the US can do…But we have a deep interest in assuring freedom of navigation in those waters.”
The Philippines has filed an arbitration case against China in The Hague, regarding the latter’s massive claims in the disputed waterway. Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam are also claimants.
The US envoy maintained that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is not designed to address the South China Sea and other disputes.
China earlier slammed the US’ deployment of its guided missile destroyer within 12 nautical miles in one of the islands claimed by China. IDL