MANILA, Philippines – Uncle Sam’s got Juan’s back. This was, in
essence, the assurance given by the chief naval officer of the United
States who said that his country was ready to help the Philippines in
matters regarding the conflicted areas in the Spratlys group of islands
which China wants to occupy.
“Of course we will help you,” Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of
Naval Operations of the US, said in a forum Thursday afternoon at Camp
Aguinaldo. “We have a treaty, it’s our obligation.”
Greenert said that China’s aggressive behavior in the waters of
the West Philippine Sea and the disputed Spratlys group of islands was
outside of what he called “good order” and violated any international
norm in any international relations.
“We oppose it, we will work to clarify it,” Greenert said.
The US Navy chief added that the parties involved and the US
should have a serious conversation on the matter of the disputed
territories and the basis of China in claiming the islands before the
dispute spills over to war.
“We don’t want conflict, we don’t want combat, we have to manage this and sit down and talk about it,” he said.
All in this together
Greenert added that, despite, the increased naval presence of the
United States in the waters of the Philippines, the operations were not
military in nature, rather fostering economic growth.
“We are all in this together.”
He said that the presence of their
source: Inquirer
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