Philippines ready to ask US for military help if Beijing attacks in South China Sea

Philippines said that it is rey to take military help from United States if tensions between Manila and Beijing escalate over South China Sea. Speaking to ANC new channel, Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said that Manila would continue its patrol over disputed waters, which China deunced as “illegal provocations”.

Locsin’s comments mark first time Rodrigo Duterte regime has publicly declared to side with US military if needed. After Duterte came to power, he tried to appease China for greater ecomic ties by hinting to set aside arbitral win at Hague in which international tribunal h ruled against most of Beijing’s claims in South China Sea.

Foreign Secretary said that Beijing can call it illegal provocations but y alrey lost arbitral award, referring to 2016 decision by international tribunal. He ded that if Chinese military goes beyond incursion and attacks a Filipi naval vessel, Manila won’t hesitate in taking help from Washington.

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Maritime dispute

disputes involve both island and maritime claims by several countries in region including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam as against China’s claim on basis of nine-dash line map. strategic region of South China Sea is vital to global tre routes but it clashes with China’s ambitious Belt and Ro Initiative (BRI).

United States has deemed Beijing’s claims to offshore resources across most of South China Sea as “completely unlawful”. US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said in July that Beijing has offered coherent legal basis for its “Nine-Dashed Line” claim in South China Sea since formally anuncing it in 2009.

Recently, State Department said that Pompeo and Locsin discussed recent change in US policy on maritime claims in South China Sea and opportunities for furr US-Philippine maritime cooperation. Locsin refused to elaborate on discussion saying “se are things that are t yet ripe for revelation.”

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