Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, shakes hands with Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse Wednesday, March 20, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Pool photo by ANDREA VERDELLI via AP)
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday repeated his stand that the United States is the Philippines’ only military ally following President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to China.
Locsin made the statement after a netizen disagreed with a remark made by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo that China and the Philippines are allies.
“China and Philippines are not allies, we only have one and that is the United States,” the netizen said.
The netizen then asked Locsin if China was indeed an ally of the Philippines.
https://twitter.com/avalon_walk/status/1122729283519012864?s=20
“Yes, they are allies of each other. It is the headline of the great Financial Times. Along with a lotta EU countries and UK,” Locsin said in a tweet.
“But the US is our only military ally,” the foreign affairs secretary added.
Yes they are allies of each other. It is the headline of the great Financial Times. Along with a lotta EU countries and UK. But the US is our only military ally. https://t.co/uzpLOd3VGQ
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 29, 2019
This is not the first time Locsin said that China and the Philippines are not military allies.
Earlier, Locsin said the country’s relationship with China is friendship and “never a military alliance.”
“The US is and will remain our only military ally. You can’t make an ally out of a near power — too close for comfort,” Locsin said in an earlier tweet.
“Natural allies are US across Pacific and Russia behind China. With China friendship is wisest; never a military alliance. The logic of balance of power,” he added.
The US is and will remain our only military ally. You can't make an ally out of a near power—too close for comfort. Natural allies are US across Pacific and Russia behind China. With China friendship is wisest; never a military alliance. The logic of balance of power. https://t.co/w0122HlSpv
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 8, 2019
In his visit to China for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, President Duterte had a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which they discussed pressing issues — such as the maritime dispute on the West Philippine Sea where Chinese fishermen were reportedly poaching giant clams.
The two leaders agreed to settle the issue through diplomatic means without sacrificing their countries’ ties.
/atm