BEIJING – China issued a stern warning to the Philippines on July 31, stating that Manila risks “greater insecurity for itself” after the United States pledged an additional US$500 million (S$670 million) in military funding to bolster the Philippines’ defense capabilities amid rising tensions with Beijing.
In a significant announcement in Manila on July 30, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the funding as a “once in a generation investment” aimed at modernizing the Philippine armed forces and coast guard.
Reacting to the announcement, China’s Foreign Ministry cautioned the Philippines against aligning with external forces. “Wooing countries from outside the region to provoke confrontation in the South China Sea will only undermine regional stability and aggravate tensions,” stated spokesman Lin Jian during a press briefing on July 31.
“Trying to introduce external forces to protect its own security will only lead to greater insecurity for itself, and it might even become someone else’s pawn,” Lin added, highlighting the potential risks of increased US involvement.
The latest high-level visit by US officials follows a series of heated encounters between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea. These incidents have sparked concerns about the possibility of Washington being drawn into a conflict due to its mutual defense treaty with Manila.
The Philippines’ strategic location near the contentious South China Sea and self-governed Taiwan makes it a pivotal ally for the US in the event of regional conflict. Beijing’s expansive claims over the South China Sea, which an international tribunal has ruled to have no legal basis, and its view of Taiwan as a breakaway province, further complicate the geopolitical landscape.
The unfolding situation underscores the delicate balance of power in the region and the potential for heightened military tensions between major global powers.