US has Philippines’ back vs China’s threats

By: Bong Lozada - 11 years ago

Admiral Greenert. Photo from Facebook page.

MANILA, Philippines – Uncle Sam’s got Juan’s back. This was, in essence, the assurance given by the chief naval officer of the United States who said that his country was ready to help the Philippines in matters regarding the conflicted areas in the Spratlys group of islands which China wants to occupy.

“Of course we will help you,” Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations of the US, said in a forum Thursday afternoon at Camp Aguinaldo. “We have a treaty, it’s our obligation.”

Greenert said that China’s aggressive behavior in the waters of the West Philippine Sea and the disputed Spratlys group of islands was outside of what he called “good order” and violated any international norm in any international relations.

“We oppose it, we will work to clarify it,” Greenert said.

The US Navy chief added that the parties involved and the US should have a serious conversation on the matter of the disputed territories and the basis of China in claiming the islands before the dispute spills over to war.

“We don’t want conflict, we don’t want combat, we have to manage this and sit down and talk about it,” he said.

All in this together

Greenert added that, despite, the increased naval presence of the United States in the waters of the Philippines, the operations were not military in nature, rather fostering economic growth.

“We are all in this together.”

He said that the presence of their ships in the region was not as much as “balancing power but about freedom of navigation, economy.”