MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese Embassy on Friday reacted to the United States reinforcing its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines, saying the pact “will not move” them from their “will and resolve.”
“The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue and is not in the position of interfering in issues between China and the Philippines. The recent tension in the South China Sea would not have occurred without the US egging on the Philippines,” the Chinese embassy told reporters in a Viber message.
“China is determined to uphold our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty will not move us a bit from our will and resolve,” it added.
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INQUIRER.net has sought the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) comment on China’s remarks, but it has yet to respond as of writing.
Speaking at the historic trilateral summit held on April 11, US President Joe Biden guaranteed that any attack on a Philippine aircraft, vessel, or armed forces in the West Philippine Sea would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty.
“We’re deepening our maritime and security ties; this is something I know you discussed with Vice President Harris during her travel to the Indo-Pacific. And I want to be clear: the United States defense commitments to Japan and to the Philippines are ironclad; they are ironclad,” said Biden.
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The first-ever trilateral summit between the Philippines, the United States, and Japan took place amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Despite the continued aggression on Philippine vessels in the WPS, the DFA stressed that the trilateral meeting is “not aimed at China,” explaining that it simply seeks to deepen the three allies’ ties on economic cooperation, maritime security, and climate change.