{"id":137880,"date":"2012-06-10T13:55:16","date_gmt":"2012-06-10T20:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=137880"},"modified":"2012-06-10T13:55:16","modified_gmt":"2012-06-10T20:55:16","slug":"obama-expresses-support-for-philippines-in-china-rift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2012\/06\/obama-expresses-support-for-philippines-in-china-rift\/","title":{"rendered":"Obama Expresses Support for Philippines in China Rift"},"content":{"rendered":"
Although tensions seem to have eased in the South China Sea<\/a>, there is still, however, a stalemate in the region between China and the Philippines<\/a>. While the US and the Philippines have discussed the dispute before<\/a>, Washington has now shown support for Manila<\/strong><\/a>. Al Jazeera reports:<\/p>\n Washington\u00a0and\u00a0Manila\u00a0have called for freedom of navigation in the tense South China Sea as the White House offered a robust show of support for Philippine President Benigno Aquino.<\/p>\n Addressing reporters next to Aquino in the Oval Office, Obama said the two leaders spoke about “trying to make sure that we have a strong set of international norms and rules governing maritime disputes in the region.”<\/p>\n In a joint statement released afterward, the two leaders “underscored the importance of the principles of ensuring freedom of navigation, respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce.”<\/p>\n China claims virtually all of the South China Sea up to Southeast Asian nations’ shores and tensions have soared in recent years with both the Philippines and Vietnam.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As Washington expressed support for Manila in maritime disputes, President Barack Obama\u2019s statement did not directly mention the conflict with China<\/a>. <\/strong>From the New York Times:<\/p>\n And he got it, if obliquely, on Friday. Mr. Obama told reporters after the meeting with Mr. Aquino that the United States and the Philippines would \u201cconsult closely together\u201d as part of \u201cthe announced pivot by the United States back to Asia,\u201d which he said should serve as a reminder that \u201cin fact, the United States considers itself, and is, a Pacific power.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Obama did not mention China or the standoff at Scarborough Shoal, but he said that he and Mr. Aquino discussed the need for \u201ca strong set of international norms and rules governing maritime disputes in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, his message was aimed at China, which has asserted sweeping claims over the South China Sea,\u00a0touching off disputes\u00a0with several other countries that border the sea. The Obama administration has countered China\u2019s muscle-flexing by shoring up alliances with old partners like the Philippines and Australia and cultivating ties with new ones like Myanmar.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n