Locsin, Pompeo hold talks on South China Sea

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo held talks on the South China issue as both countries reaffirm their "strong" alliance amid China's increased military presence in the disputed waters.

Pompeo, in a readout of his call to Locsin on Thursday, Aug. 6 (Friday, Aug. 7 in Manila), discussed "the recent change in US policy on maritime claims in the South China Sea and US support for Southeast Asian coastal states upholding their sovereign rights and interests consistent with international law."

He also talked about "opportunities for further US-Philippine maritime cooperation" even as President Rodrigo Duterte barred the country's participation in any maritime drills in the South China Sea - a move lauded by Beijing.

The two secretaries, the statement said, "also discussed the strong economic, security, and people-to-people ties that bind our two countries."

The US last month backed Southeast Asian nations locked in territorial disputes with China, saying it will not allow the Asian superpower to rule and control the resource-rich South China Sea.

Australia followed suit, rejecting Beijing's claims over the waters and supporting the 2016 award of the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands that heard the case brought by the Philippines against China.

China, which considers the sea disputes a purely Asian issue, is opposed to any foreign intervention, particularly the US.

Although Washington is not a party to the disputes, it has declared that it is in its national interest to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight in the contested waters where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and China have overlapping claims.

Over the years, China, which insisted on historical claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, has expanded its presence in the waters, turning several former reefs into artificial islands with military facilities, runways and surface to air missiles. 

Duterte, during his fifth State of the Nation Address, said he was inutile and cannot risk waging war over the South China Sea dispute, stressing China was "in possession of the property."

"Alam mo, unless we are prepared to go to war, I would suggest that we better just call off and treat this as a diplomatic endeavor. China is claiming it, we are claiming it. China has the arms, we do not have it. So, it’s simple as that, they are in possession of the property," he said.

Critics denounced Duterte's "cowardice" and defeatist tone on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Philippine government in June also postponed the abrogation of its Visiting Forces Agreement with the US "in light of political and other developments in the region."

The said treaty termination has been unilaterally decided by Duterte in February following the US visa cancellation of his close ally, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.— with Dona Magsino/RSJ/KBK, GMA News