US-Philippines alliance is ‘ironclad’- Blinken

BBC ^ | March 19, 2024 | Tom Bateman

[McGruff]

Friction has grown between Manila and Beijing in recent months over competing claims in the South China Sea.

"These waterways are critical to the Philippines, to its security, to its economy," Mr Blinken said.

"They're also critical to the interests of the region, the United States and the world,"

"That's why we stand with the Philippines and stand by our ironclad defence commitments, including under the mutual defence treaty."

The visit is also likely to be seen as bolstering American support for Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has tilted towards Washington unlike his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who pushed ties with Beijing.

[17th Miss Regt]

In other words, the Biden administration is about to betray the Philippines.

[The Free Engineer]

Gosh golly he can be so trusted. Never before a more trustworthy person, and a more trustworthy administration has ruled in Washington.

[Jonty30]

Give it over to China.

[SaveFerris]

Yeah; worries me too

[alloysteel]

We shall lose the Philippines even sooner than Taiwan, if this statement is being read right. Blinken moves in oblique directions, much like the Bishop in chess.

[ComputerGuy]

Ironclad? He means wrapped in tinfoil.

[Paul R.]

Philippines has been doing things like getting some F-16’s and stuffing more weapons onto those large Coast Guard Cutters we turned over to them. Those boats are the best they’ve got. But... it’s only 3 ships.

They had better be working on their asymmetric defense capabilities, big time. Such could actually work quite well in their geography / environment.

[bert]

The Biden administration is over. The next Presidential actions will determine the issue. However, there are new bases in the philippines that are clearly visible to China

[niteowl77]

That’s it for the Phillipines, then.

[SunkenCiv]

Selections from the 2443 keywords topics:

• SCS: Old battleground, new twist: Old battleground, new twist [03/16/2024]
• Four Filipinos injured in China, Philippine S China Sea standoff [03/05/2024]
• Phillipines Relaxes Rules for Rifles to Counter Threats From China (Bearing Arms) [03/05/2024]
• Chinese fishing vessels are going scorched earth and pumping cyanide into contested waters, Philippine fishing authority says [02/22/2024]
• The PRC's Aggression Is Happening Now Against the Philippines [01/01/2024]
• Philippines says Chinese coast guard fired water cannons against its ships delivering supplies off disputed shoal [12/10/2023]
• Dozens of US A-10 Thunderbolt II Arrive in Clark Air Base, Philippines [12/05/2023]
• Explosion during Catholic mass in Philippines kills three, injures nine Governor condemns "violent bombing" at Mindanao State University [12/02/2023]
• Japan and Philippines to Negotiate Defense Pact (and China Is Not Happy About It) [11/03/2023]
• Manila Says Chinese Vessels 'Intentionally' Hit Philippine Boats [10/23/2023]
• Chinese boats ram Philippine vessels, near shoal: Manila [10/22/2023]
• Disgraced Elections Administrator Gets New Gig in Dallas County [10/22/2023]
• Philippines' ex-President Rodrigo Duterte says Israel should 'crush Hamas', turn Gaza into 'world's biggest cemetery' [10/12/2023]
• A QAnon 'Queen' and the Canada Town That Wants Her Gone [09/27/2023]
• Philippines says it will remove barrier installed by China in disputed South China Sea [09/25/2023]
• Philippines condemns China for installing floating barrier in disputed sea [09/24/2023]
• Chinese Aircraft Carrier, Warships Massing for Major Exercise Near the Philippines [09/14/2023]
• China's new national map has angered its neighbors [09/01/2023]
• China's attempt to seize another island in the South China Sea failed (for now) [08/27/2023]
• Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over water cannon incident in disputed South China Sea [08/07/2023]
• Philippines' Marcos Vows to 'Strengthen' China Ties on Beijing Trip [01/04/2023]
• Philippines' Marcos wants China ties to 'shift to higher gear' under his presidency [05/19/2022]
• New Marcos era emphatically born in the Philippines [05/10/2022]
• Ferdinand Marcos Jr on cusp of winning landslide in Philippines elections [05/09/2022]
• Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of former Philippine dictator, takes huge lead in Presidential vote [05/09/2022]

[Paul R.]

IF we have sufficient resupply capacity (munitions, etc.) and the bases can be adequately defended, those bases are in many ways better than more ships. If we have that resupply capacity...