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The US Embassy in Manila said Thursday that the Philippines’ sovereignty over the disputed South China Sea (SCS) is a “non-negotiable” aspect of the US’ Indo-Pacific push.

“The United States is a proud Indo-Pacific member, and we will strengthen our ties with our treaty allies, including the Philippines, to promote broad-based prosperity and security,” US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava said, citing State Secretary Antony Blinken’s recent policy statement.

She went on to say that “Philippine sovereignty over its territorial seas in South China is a non-negotiable aspect of the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

She stated that Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has been “extremely active in his diplomatic efforts” to clarify Philippine rights in the region, which the US “absolutely supports.”

“I believe you saw our statement following the incident on Whitsun Reef in March and the incident on Ayungin Shoal in November. We will keep repeating these declarations and encouraging the People’s Republic of China to respect the rights of the Philippines and other countries in this regard “she stated

Beijing’s maritime claims in the South China Sea, according to a recent State Department study, “gravely threaten the rule of law in the oceans.”

Variava emphasized the United States’ willingness to collaborate with the Philippines and other countries to “help maintain and enhance” the international rules-based order and the free and open use of the South China Sea.

China, the Philippines, and a number of other coastal states are embroiled in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea, with Beijing claiming nearly 80% of the crucial water based on “historic rights.”

Currently, the parties are addressing the issue through bilateral and multilateral measures, including developing a Code of Conduct with other ASEAN countries.

The Philippines and China have biannual Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM) meetings on the SCS, the most recent of which was held digitally in May 2021.

As the 2022 elections approach, Variava expressed confidence that any conversations on the South China Sea between the future administration and other countries will not jeopardize the Philippine-US partnership.

“As a sovereign country, it is expected that the Philippines will engage in discussions with other countries in the region in order to resolve territorial disputes,” she said. “However, those discussions will not jeopardize the longstanding alliance between the United States and the Philippines, which has been proven time and time again to be a bedrock of regional stability and prosperity.”

She also reaffirmed the United States’ steadfast commitment to Philippine security, citing the PHP57 billion in military aid it has supplied since 2015.

“The Philippines continues to receive the most military aid in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating our commitment to the Philippines and the region’s peace and stability,” she said.

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