US, PH defense chief nag-usap sa laser incident ng China – Pentagon

US, PH defense chief nag-usap sa laser incident ng China – Pentagon

February 22, 2023 @ 4:02 PM 1 month ago


MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ng Pentagon nitong Miyerkules, Pebrero 22 na nag-usap na ang kapwa defense chief ng Estados Unidos at Pilipinas sa mga pangyayari sa South China Sea, partikular na ang pinakahuling laser incident ng Chinese Coast Guard sa mga tauhan ng Philippine Coast Guard sa Ayungin Shoal.

Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Pentagon Press Secretary BGen. Pat Ryder na pinag-usapan nina US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III at Defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr. sa tawag sa telepono, ang paggamit ng military-grade laser ng China, at iginiit na legal na kumikilos ang barko ng PCG na BRP Malapascua sa naturang lugar.

“Secretary Austin underscored the United States’ commitment to supporting the lawful rights and operations of the Philippines in the South China Sea, including around the Second Thomas Shoal, which the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal unequivocally ruled is a part of the Philippine exclusive economic zone,”ani Ryder.

“[Austin] reiterated that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels, including those of its Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang mga naging pahayag ni Austin ay kahalintulad ng mga sinabi ni US Vice President Kamala Harris nang bumisita ito sa bansa noong Nobyembre.

Sinabi pa ni Ryder na pinag-usapan din nina Austin at Galvez ang planong mas palalimin pa ang operational cooperation ng dalawang bansa at pagpapalakas ng shared security ng US at Pilipinas, kabilang ang pagpapatuloy ng joint patrols sa South China Sea.

“Secretary Austin and Secretary Galvez also discussed opportunities to expand security cooperation with like-minded nations, such as Japan, that seek to uphold the rules-based international order and our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” ayon sa Pentagon.

Nauna nang ibinahagi ni Pangulong Marcos ang posibilidad ng tripartite military agreement sa pagitan ng Pilipinas, Estados Unidos at Japan. RNT/JGC