China warns Philippines of 'resolute' response in West PH Sea | ABS-CBN
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China warns Philippines of 'resolute' response in West PH Sea
China warns Philippines of 'resolute' response in West PH Sea
Agence France-Presse
Published Jul 27, 2024 12:31 PM PHT
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Updated Jul 28, 2024 02:38 PM PHT
Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File
Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FileVIENTIANE, Laos (UPDATED) -- China will "respond resolutely" to any violation by the Philippines of a recent deal to calm tensions between the two countries in the South China Sea, its top diplomat told his Filipino counterpart, Beijing said Saturday.
VIENTIANE, Laos (UPDATED) -- China will "respond resolutely" to any violation by the Philippines of a recent deal to calm tensions between the two countries in the South China Sea, its top diplomat told his Filipino counterpart, Beijing said Saturday.
Manila is locked in a longstanding territorial row with Beijing over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars worth of trade passes annually.
Manila is locked in a longstanding territorial row with Beijing over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars worth of trade passes annually.
Last week, the two sides agreed to a "provisional arrangement" for resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the focus of violent clashes in recent months.
Last week, the two sides agreed to a "provisional arrangement" for resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the focus of violent clashes in recent months.
Wang Yi called on the Philippines to "honor its commitments" under the deal rather than "backtracking or creating complications", according to a readout of his meeting with Philippine foreign secretary Enrique Manalo at an ASEAN gathering in Laos.
Wang Yi called on the Philippines to "honor its commitments" under the deal rather than "backtracking or creating complications", according to a readout of his meeting with Philippine foreign secretary Enrique Manalo at an ASEAN gathering in Laos.
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"Otherwise, China will definitely respond resolutely," he said.
"Otherwise, China will definitely respond resolutely," he said.
Wang also warned the Philippines against deploying a US missile defense system.
Wang also warned the Philippines against deploying a US missile defense system.
"If the Philippines introduces the US intermediate-range missile defense system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race," he said.
"If the Philippines introduces the US intermediate-range missile defense system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race," he said.
Speaking to reporters late Friday, Manalo said he hoped Beijing would keep its side of the bargain.
Speaking to reporters late Friday, Manalo said he hoped Beijing would keep its side of the bargain.
"If the parties implement, and we hope China implements the agreement, then we'll be able to resupply our military personnel on the ship without any obstruction," he said.
"If the parties implement, and we hope China implements the agreement, then we'll be able to resupply our military personnel on the ship without any obstruction," he said.
"I think that would be an important step forward in diffusing tensions and hopefully lead to other areas of cooperation on the South China Sea."
"I think that would be an important step forward in diffusing tensions and hopefully lead to other areas of cooperation on the South China Sea."
The two diplomats met in Laos capital Vientiane, host of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meeting that comes amid high tensions over the South China Sea.
The two diplomats met in Laos capital Vientiane, host of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meeting that comes amid high tensions over the South China Sea.
Beijing claims the waterway -- through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually -- almost in its entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
Beijing claims the waterway -- through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually -- almost in its entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
The clashes have fuelled fears of a conflict that could drag in the United States due to its mutual defense treaty with Manila.
The clashes have fuelled fears of a conflict that could drag in the United States due to its mutual defense treaty with Manila.
US top diplomat Antony Blinken arrived in Laos on Saturday for talks with ASEAN foreign ministers and will also meet with Wang.
US top diplomat Antony Blinken arrived in Laos on Saturday for talks with ASEAN foreign ministers and will also meet with Wang.
Blinken has prioritized promoting a "free and open" Asia-Pacific region -- a thinly veiled criticism of China's regional economic, strategic and territorial ambitions.
Blinken has prioritized promoting a "free and open" Asia-Pacific region -- a thinly veiled criticism of China's regional economic, strategic and territorial ambitions.
© Agence France-Presse
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China
Philippines
West Philippine Sea
South China Sea
Wang Yi
Enrique Manalo
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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