MANILA, Philippines—The United States will definitely stand by the Philippines in the event of an armed conflict with China over the Spratly islands, the US Embassy in Manila said.
Asserting Washington’s position on the issue, embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thompson on Tuesday quoted from a portion of US Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas Jr.’s speech delivered last week on board the USS Carl Vinson which was visiting Manila.
In his remarks, Thomas had said: “Now and in the future, we will maintain our strong relationship, and we are dedicated to being your partner whenever you are in harm’s way… this is a commitment born of our shared histories and close ties, and we are proud to stand by your side.”
The Inquirer had asked Thompson to comment on Sen. Joker Arroyo’s statement made over the weekend that the Philippines could not count on the US to go to war with China over the Spratly islands.
Arroyo told a radio interview that in the face of intrusions by supposed Chinese fighter jets in the vicinity of the island chain, the Philippines could only rely on its own military if a row with China erupted.
Despite the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)—which governs the conduct of American troops temporarily in the country—Arroyo said the US has not issued any words of caution to China over the disputed islands.
He said “the US will not go to war [along] with us. What we get is only the assurance of the US ambassador, but the words of the ambassador amount to nothing.”
He had added: “We have to defend ourselves and not think that America will defend us.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs did not comment on the issue.
For its part, the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Thomas was “most probably just trying to justify the VFA.”
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said “it would take more than an assurance from the envoy before the US declares war on another country like China.”
Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino said “only a naive person or someone who is ignorant of history will believe (Thomas).”
“He shouldn’t issue such false and patronizing statements,” Palatino said, noting that “the US will support a country based on its own strategic and geopolitical interests and not out of special affection for a country it used to colonize.”
The reputedly oil-rich Spratlys chain of islands is being claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.