torsdag 28. januar 2021

South China Sea: Blinken pledges US backing for the Philippines in the event of attack

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged support to the Philippines in the event of armed attacks in the South China Sea as he reached out to Asia and Europe to renew US alliances after taking office.

On Thursday, Blinken “reaffirmed that a strong US-Philippine alliance is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific region” in the call with Philippine foreign minister Teodoro Locsin, according to a statement by the US Department of State. Blinken “stressed the importance of the Mutual Defence Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea,” the statement said.