Philippines Fights Back: Maritime Actions Are National, Not Global Chess Moves

Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo refuted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's claims that the country’s maritime decisions are influenced by external powers. Emphasizing national interest, Manalo dismissed the notion of being entangled in global strategic rivalries. Concurrently, Philippines and Japan discuss enhancing defense cooperation amid China's assertive regional actions.

Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo has firmly rejected the assertion by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that external forces influence the nation's maritime strategies. Manalo labeled this perspective as a misrepresentation, emphasizing that the issue primarily relates to the Philippines' national interests. The foreign secretary's remarks came during an engagement with British Foreign Minister David Lammy, underscoring the nation's independent stance.

Addressing Wang Yi's comments from a March press conference, Manalo stated the portrayal of the situation as a power struggle among global giants distracts from the essential issue of protecting Philippines' interests. He reaffirmed that the Philippines' actions in the South China Sea are devoid of any strategic alliances with major powers, insisting these actions focus solely on sovereignty and security concerns.

In parallel developments, the Philippines has sought to bolster its defense collaboration with Japan amid growing tensions linked to China's assertive tactics in the Indo-Pacific. The defense talks, led by Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, highlighted the necessity for regional security vigilance and intelligence sharing in response to China's activities in the South China and East China Seas.

(With inputs from agencies.)