US to China: Don’t overreact to WPS quad drills; accept 2016 ruling

FILE: Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby speaks at a press briefing on the Afghanistan withdrawal at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Aug. 16, 2021. (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)

MANILA – China need not “overreact” to the quadrilateral maritime exercise among the Philippines, the United States (US), Japan and Australia in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the White House said Thursday (Manila time).

In a press conference with the Philippine media delegation in Washington, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said the quadrilateral maritime cooperation in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is “about freedom of navigation [and] adherence to international law”.

“I can’t speak for the PRC (People’s Republic of China) reaction, one way or another, except to say there is no reason to overreact to this,” Kirby said.

“It’s about proving the simple point that we and our allies will fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits us to do and it does in the South China Sea, and we did,” he added.

The Philippines on April 7 held a maritime cooperative activity (MCA) with the US, Japan, and Australia in WPS, amid growing tensions in the South China Sea (SCS) as China asserts its expansive claims, including on several parts of Philippine territory.

The MCA included an anti-submarine warfare training, tactical, link and photo exercises, demonstrating the four countries’ collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Kirby said the US government has been watching over the tensions in the WPS “with great concern” and is urging China to adhere to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling which upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the SCS.

He said US President Joe Biden, during his recent telephone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressed Washington D.C.’s concerns over Beijing’s incursions in the disputed waters.

“We again urge the PRC to abide by the 2016 ruling, and to recognize as we do that the second time a show of force within the Philippine economic exclusion area and we will continue to make that point when the President spoke to President Xi, he very clearly made our concerns known about Chinese activities in the South China Sea,” Kirby said.

China has reportedly staged its own maritime drill, coinciding with the quadrilateral exercise.

Kirby said the US would conduct more similar maritime patrols in the Philippine waters.

“And, I think you can look forward to additional opportunities for us to conduct those kinds of maritime patrol. But they are really about reconfirming a simple principle about international maritime law in international waters,” Kirby said.

Full support from US

Kirby also assured the Philippines of the US’ commitment to providing full support to the Marcos administration.

He said the US government would continue to strengthen its relations with Manila under Biden’s leadership.

“For as long as President Biden is the president of the United States, the Philippines can count on him and his team’s full support from proving our bilateral relationship and for meeting our commitment, our treaty commitments to the Philippines,” Kirby told the reporters.

Kirby added the US government will exhaust all efforts to sustain its good relationship with the Philippines, amid China’s aggressive acts in the SCS.

“All by itself is so important, and then you throw it in, when you are able to look at things like trilateral, quadrilateral cooperation, it becomes all the more relevant particularly when we look at what is going on in the South China Sea,” he said.

Kirby sat before the Philippine media delegation ahead of the historic trilateral summit among the Philippines, the US and Japan.

He ensured that the telephone call between Biden and Xi would not affect the US leader’s bilateral meeting with Marcos and their trilateral meeting with Kishida.

He said the trilateral summit aims to discuss a wide range of areas to deepen the three countries’ partnerships not just in terms of security framework, but also in many aspects, including trade, people to people exchanges and climate change.

“Our three countries embark on this new era of trilateral cooperation as trusted, equal partners, guided by shared values and an unwavering commitment to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Kirby said.

“This week will clearly illustrate President Biden’s continued commitment to strengthening our key alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, innovating around shared challenges and exploring new areas of cooperation,” he added.

Kirby also acknowledged that Marcos’ visit aims to enhance the economic and energy security between the Philippines and the US and to foster maritime cooperation, to invest in critical infrastructure and to deepen people-to-people relationship of the two countries.

“They will discuss initiatives to enhance economic and energy security, to bolster maritime cooperation, to invest in critical infrastructure and of course, to deepen people-to-people ties. President Biden will reinforce the ironclad U.

S. alliance commitments to the Philippines,” he said.