VIENTIANE: Beijing will “reply resolutely” to any violation by the Philippines of a recent agreement to calm tensions between the two sides in the South China Sea, its top diplomat told his Filipino counterpart, China said Saturday.
Earlier, the two nations agreed to a “provisional arrangement” for resupply missions to Filipino forces stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the focus of clashes in recent months.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the Philippines to “honour its promises” under the agreement rather than “backtracking “, according to a readout of his meeting with Philippine top diplomat Enrique Manalo at an ASEAN meeting in Laos. He said that otherwise, China will definitely reply resolutely.
The Chinese top diplomat warned the Philippines regarding deploying an American missile defense system. Wang Yi said that it will create tension in the region and trigger an arms race If the Philippines introduces the US missile defense system. Similarly, speaking to media late Friday, Manalo hoped China would keep its side of the bargain. He said that the two sides implement, and they hoped Beijing implements the deal, then they will be able to resupply their military personnel on the ship without any hurdle.
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The two ministers met in Laos, host of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meeting that comes amid tensions over the South China Sea. China claims the waterway — through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually — almost in its entirety despite an international court decision that its assertion has no legal ground.
US top diplomat Antony Blinken has also arrived in Laos on Saturday for talks with ASEAN foreign ministers.
