DAVAO CITY–Amid veiled threats of economic sanctions issued by China against the Philippines as tensions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) heightened, US Embassy Chargés d’Affaires Y. Robert Ewing said here on Thursday that the United States still stands by the Philippines as a partner in prosperity and a long-time ally.
Ewing described the alliance between the US and the country as “iron-clad,” adding that several countries will join what he described as the largest Balikatan exercises in the country this year.
READ: PH, US reaffirm ‘ironclad’ alliance
“I am pleased to meet with President Marcos (Jr.) recently for the 88th anniversary celebration of the US-Philippine diplomatic ties and the 75th anniversary of the alliance,” referring to the Mutual Defense Treaty signed between the country and the US in August 1951.
“We stand by the Philippines as partners in prosperity, as friends, partners, and allies. This alliance is ironclad, and Balikatan, which allows us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder for interoperability exercises, is coming,” he added.
READ: US Army expands presence in PH
Ewing was at the Ateneo de Davao University to meet with beneficiaries of the US Embassy’s program to improve English proficiency among pupils in rural public schools. /coa
The post US reaffirms `ironclad’ alliance with PH amid West PH sea tensions appeared first on Inquirer.net.
