DFA: Military ties to strengthen PHL policy on Spratlys

The Philippines must maintain military alliances with the United States and other regional allies to strengthen its foreign policy stance on the disputed Spratly Islands, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Tuesday. “In promoting national security, we will engage ASEAN, the US — our treaty ally — and the major regional powers to be able to keep our neighborhood safe," said Del Rosario at the 113th anniversary celebrations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Preparing to visit Beijing this week for bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Del Rosario will take up Spratlys issue amid escalating military activities and presence of Chinese vessels in the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Del Rosario’s upcoming visit to China may ease the dispute, a Palace official said Saturday. President Benigno Aquino III, who was the DFA’s guest of honor during its anniversary, said the Philippines “will engage other countries, multilaterally, bilaterally, so that we can avoid foreign problems from spilling into our region." One of the latest developments involving the Spratly Islands, Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama on Monday said an unidentified foreign jet harassed a Filipino fishing boat last month. — PE/VS, GMA News