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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider US views Indo-Pacific as world's dynamic, fast-growing region

US views Indo-Pacific as world's dynamic, fast-growing region

Published Jan 20, 2023 03:21 pm

The US is strengthening its ties with the Philippines and other neighboring countries as it sees the Indo-Pacific region from a strategic perspective, , a ranking US official said Friday.

Speaking before students of De La Salle University, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink stressed the importance of the Indo-Pacific, which is "the most dynamic and fastest-growing region in the world."

Ali Vicoy/MANILA BULLETIN

Kritenbrink, who is in Manila for a two-day Bilateral Strategic Dialogue with Philippine officials, said that the US' "prosperity and security is inextricably intertwined with the future of this important region."

"We continue to strengthen our alliance relationship with not just the Philippines, but with Australia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand," he said in his remark.

"We're also building a mini dynamic partnership with friends all across ASEAN, in the Pacific Islands countries as well. And we take a very flexible approach in how we approach the region," he added.

US' alliance with the Philippines, which was strengthened anew under President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., is seen by Philippine progressive groups as only serving its own interest.

Meanwhile, some propaganda channels supportive of China, US main competition in the region, questioned the Western giant's real interest in the Philippines.

Kritenbrink told students that Filipinos should not take sides in terms of its foreign policy as they are free to decide which is best for the Philippines.

Kritenbrink was one of the ranking US officials to visit Manila. Other officials included US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who both reiterated the US' alliance and commitment to assist and defend the Philippines.

The Philippines hosted the 10th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue with the US to discuss current challenges being faced by both countries and come up with ways to resolve them.

During the dialogue, both sides discussed current challenges and identified new areas for cooperation at the working group and senior officials' levels as well as covered a gamut of relations, including in the areas of defense, economic, people-to-people, and other related cross-cutting issues at the bilateral, regional, and global levels.

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US State Department daniel kritenbrink Philippines bilateral strategic dialogue
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