US Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary Locsin talked about Chinese maritime militia

Secretary of State Blinken talks with Foreign Secretary Locsin

MANILA – U.S. Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken talked with Philippine Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin today.

According to State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, both foreign secretaries “shared concerns with the massing of RC maritime militia vessels in the South China Sa, including at Whitsun Reef.”

Mr. Price said both parties reiterated their calls on the People’s Republic of China to abide by the 2016 arbitration ruling issued according to the Law of the Sea Convention.

“Secretary Blinken also reaffirmed the applicability of the 1951 U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty to the South China Sea,” Mr. Price added.

It was learned Secretary Blinken and Secretary Locsin welcomed “enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation on the South China Sea.”

Mr. Blinken also talked about the Biden Administration’s efforts to combat rising rate and violence against Asian-Americans. (Melo M. Acuña)

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken (left) and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Loscin Jr. (right) standing beside Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez. (US State Department Photo/File Photo/Melo M. Acuna)