US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the impact of sequestration on the national defense, on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 7, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
The United States will come to the aid of the Philippines in the event of conflict with China over disputed waters in the South China Sea, the commander of the US Navy said on Thursday.
The comments by Admiral Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations of the US Navy, were the most explicit statement of US support for the ill-equipped Philippine military which is facing a more assertive China in disputed waters.
"Of course, we would help you," Greenert told students of the National Defense College of the Philippines in response to a question about a hypothetical Chinese occupation of one of the disputed Spratly Islands.
"I don't know what that help would be specifically. I mean, we have an obligation because we have a treaty. But, I don't know in what capacity that help is."
China claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea's 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mile) waters. The sea provides 10 percent of the global fisheries catch and carries $5 trillion in ship-borne trade each year.
Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam also claim parts of the sea.
China's claim conflicts with that of the Philippines, which has a 1951 treaty with the United States that officials say bind the two partners to defend each other in case of external attack.
The Philippines has taken its dispute with China to arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea but China is refusing to participate in the case.
Greenert praised the Philippines' move to ask a UN tribunal to strike down China's claims to most of the South China Sea, saying it was "a terrific idea."
He urged the Philippines "to stay the course and bring this to fruition."
China has rejected challenges to its sovereignty claims, and accused the Philippines of illegally occupying Chinese islands in the seas and of provoking tension there.
Greenert said the United States supported the Philippines' case and opposed China's aggressive behavior and would work with allies to maintain freedom of navigation.
The United States has spoken out against China's assertive moves which have in recent months included the imposition of an air defense identification zone in northeast Asia and new fishing rules in South China Sea.
"I think you may have seen some statements coming from our policy-makers exactly in that direction, you will see more of that from us," he said, adding he believed China wanted to be clear on where the United States stood.
The United States has not taken a stand on the conflicting territorial claims over the South China Sea, but Greenert said that he wanted to send a "clear signal... that aggressive behavior outside of international norms is contrary to good order."
In December, during a visit to the Philippines, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned China against any move to declare an air defense zone in the South China Sea, a declaration that was seen as an affirmation of the defense ties between Manila and Washington.
Greenert said the United States was deploying more ships in the region as it rebalanced foreign policy towards Asia and the United States hoped to deploy 60 ships in the Western Pacific from about 45 to 50 now.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/80703/us-admiral-assures-philippines-of-help-in-case-of-conflict-with-china-over-disputed-isles
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