United States Embassy in Manila spokesman Kanishka Gangopadhyay disputed the "bully" tag by the Chinese Embassy in Manila on the US for strengthening its military alliance with the Philippines and interfering in regional matters.
Gangopadhyay reiterated that the US commitment to the defense of the Philippines is "ironclad”.
File photo by Manila Bulletin
US commitment to PH defense 'ironclad', says US embassy
Mar 12, 2023 06:01 AM
At a glance
After China called the United States (US) a “bully” for strengthening its military alliance with the Philippines and interfering in regional matters, the US Embassy in Manila on Sunday, March 12, reiterated that its “commitment to the defense of the Philippines is ironclad.”
In a response to media questions, US Embassy in Manila spokesman Kanishka Gangopadhyay commented on Chinese Embassy in Manila’s calling the former colonial power a “bully” who is “ganging up with its allies from other parts of the world to flex muscle in the South China Sea.”
“My only response to the PRC (People’s Republic of China) statement is to repeat what we have said for some time: The United States and the Philippines enjoy an alliance and partnership based on deep historical, economic, and cultural ties, and our shared democratic values,” the spokesman said.
He stressed that the US and the Philippines “stand together as friends, partners, and allies.”
“Now and always, the US commitment to the defense of the Philippines is ironclad, and we are committed to strengthening our economic and investment relationship,” Gangopadhyay added.
China has consistently opposed the Philippines’ planned expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which will add four more military based that US forces would have access to. That’s in addition to the five existing bases.
It criticized the US’ presence in the Philippines and had spoken against what it calls Washington’s “hegemony and selfish geopolitical interests and out of the cold-war mentality” that threatens peace and stability in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait regions.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila was further angered by the comments made by US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland, who questioned the economic cooperation between Manila and Beijing and claimed that the EDCA expansion would help address security concerns in the region.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson also claimed that the access to four more bases would improve the ability of Cagayan and Isabela—both targeted for additional EDCA bases—to defend themselves and help grow their economies.