China will give a “firm response” to any Philippine violation of a recent agreement aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea, China's foreign minister told his Philippine counterpart on Saturday (July 27).
Manila is embroiled in a long-running territorial dispute with Beijing, with both claiming rights to the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars worth of trade pass each year.
Last week, the two sides agreed on a “temporary arrangement” for a resupply mission for Philippine troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, which has been a flashpoint in fierce clashes in recent months.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday (July 26) asked the Philippines to “honor its commitments” under the deal and avoid “backing down or creating complications,” after his meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo at an ASEAN meeting in Laos.
“Otherwise, China will definitely respond firmly,” he said.
Manalo said he hoped Beijing would keep its end of the bargain.
“If the parties implement, and we hope China implements the agreement, then we will be able to resupply our military personnel on the ship without any hindrance,” he said on Friday (26/7).
“I think that would be an important step forward in easing tensions and hopefully leading to other areas of cooperation in the South China Sea,” Manalo added.
The two diplomats met in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, which is hosting a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers amid high tensions in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims almost the entire waterway, despite international court rulings that the claim has no legal basis.
The China-Philippines clash has raised concerns of a possible conflict that could involve Washington because of its mutual defense treaty with Manila.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Laos on Saturday (27/7) for discussions with ASEAN foreign ministers and is scheduled to hold meetings with Wang.
Blinken stressed the importance of a “free and open” Asia-Pacific region, an implicit criticism of China’s economic, strategic and territorial ambitions in the region. (ah/ft)
