MANILA, Philippines — The United States on Saturday assured its traditional treaty ally, the Philippines, that their decades’ long ties is "unbreakable," just days after China conducted a naval muscle flexing in the disputed South China Sea.
Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt which arrived in Manila for a port visit last Wednesday, April 11, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said the warship’s presence here “sends a clear message.”
“I think there are times when we should speak loudly and clearly,” Kim said.
“[This] sends a clear message to everyone in the region especially to our friends in the Philippines because our commitment to the US-Philippine alliance is unbreakable and will remain so indefinitely,” he added.
The Roosevelt docked in the capital after China, in an apparent display of military might, held massive air and naval drills in the contested sea.
The Philippines claims parts of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone and calls it the West Philippine Sea.
China has been increasing its power projection capabilities in the strategic waterway by building artificial islands.
“The opportunity to have this carrier here and the opportunity to be in all of the South China Sea region is an indication that we’re here to support all of our friends and allies here in the region,” said Rear Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of Carrier Strike Group 9.
“It is about the freedom of commerce and professional operations at sea,” he added.
Ties between the Philippines and China have significantly improved under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has set aside a ruling from a UN-backed tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s claim to sovereignty over most of the resource-rich waters.
Although it is not a party to the maritime row, Washington has been infuriating China for repeatedly sending warships close to Chinese-controlled reefs in recent years.
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group will continue on their regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment after departing Manila.