FOREIGN Secretary Albert del Rosario conveyed to US Sen. John McCain on Tuesday the Philippine government’s agreement with the Republican senator’s call for the US to step up efforts in supporting Southeast Asian countries on the issue of sovereignty in the South China Sea.
This developed as the government, speaking through the DFA, also welcomed the call of the Singapore Foreign Ministry for the People’s Republic of China (PROC) to clarify the extent of its claim to the South China Sea.
“The Singaporean ambassador personally conveyed his government’s position to Secretary del Rosario last Friday when the latter met the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] ambassadors,” DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said.
Malaya added, “as we have said all along, the issues pertaining to the West Philippine Sea and the Spratly Islands affect not just the claimant countries but the entire region itself and beyond, and thus call for a multi-stakeholder approach.”
“We urge concerned parties to work with us in resolving this longstanding yet escalating issue through sustained consultations, adherence to international law and diplomacy,” the DFA spokesman said.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington reported on Wednesday that del Rosario put across the government’s position in a meeting with McCain.
The DFA said del Rosario and McCain met a day after the American senator, who also sits as a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told a dinner sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies that the US should assist Asean members in developing and deploying an early warning system and coastal vessels in the areas being disputed.
A DFA statement added that McCain also emphasized in his meeting with del Rosario the importance of diplomacy and a unified effort in helping Asean address differences with China.
“They both agreed that a multilateral approach is vital in resolving differences among the claimant-nations. They also supported a rules-based regime and a binding agreement to preserve the peace in the region,” the DFA said.
“Senator McCain added that the best way to prevent conflict is to build capabilities and undertake joint operations.”
At the same time, McCain also reiterated the American government’s support for the Philippines, which he considers the first democracy in Asia and a close treaty ally of the United States.
For his part, Secretary del Rosario highlighted the importance of trade cooperation between the two countries.
“After a discussion on the Save Our Industries bill, Senator McCain expressed his readiness to be a cosponsor,” the DFA said.
It explained that the SAVE Act would allow the entry to the US duty-free of Philippine apparel exports made of US-made fabrics and reduced tariffs on those that use US-made yarns.
The SAVE Act would represent the first major trade initiative between the two countries in nearly forty years, it added.
