PH to China: We're Still Talking to You, But We're Also Loading Up on US Missiles

The Philippines is walking a diplomatic tightrope — maintaining open communication with Beijing while simultaneously loading up on American missile systems. The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Friday that it is keeping "open lines of communication" with China on the South China Sea dispute, even as Manila deepens its military alliances with the United States and other Western partners.

DFA spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva emphasized that the Philippines is pursuing "effective and principled diplomacy" in advancing national interests. "Even as the DFA deepens alliances and partnerships with like-minded countries, it also maintains open lines of communication with the Chinese side in pursuit of candid, constructive dialogue and practical cooperation," he said during a press briefing.

The statement comes amid heated exchanges between Philippine government officials and the Chinese embassy in Manila, with both sides engaging in ill-tempered rhetoric in recent weeks. The Philippines recently urged China to keep its tone calm as diplomatic tensions escalated over competing territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.

Adding fuel to the geopolitical fire, the Philippines and the United States recently committed to ramping up the deployment of "cutting-edge missile and unmanned systems" in the country. Manila also held separate bilateral talks with both the US and Canada on maritime security issues — a clear signal that the Philippines is building a coalition of support.

The South China Sea remains one of the most contested waterways in the world, with China claiming virtually the entire area despite a 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated its expansive claims. The Philippines and China have been locked in a series of maritime confrontations in recent years, with no resolution in sight.

Source: Reuters