Philippines urges China, U.S. to settle row

Asian Political News, May 28, 2001

MANILA, May 22 Kyodo

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo refused Tuesday to take sides in the simmering disputes between the United States and China and instead urged both countries to settle their disagreements amicably to preserve peace in Southeast Asia.

''It is to the benefit of regional security that the two countries should be able to resolve their differences amicably and that is what we are urging,'' Arroyo told a press conference.

''We have been friends of the United States for a long time and probably their best friend in this part of the world today. We are also friends of China and China is our neighbor,'' she said.

She was responding to a question about a study released earlier this month by the Rand Corp. think tank that says U.S. military strategy in Asia, which for decades was focused on Japan and North Korea, should shift to preparing for potential conflict over Taiwan.

The Rand study recommended the U.S. extend security cooperation with the Philippines to allow frequent, rotating, force deployments.

Arroyo also dismissed speculation the Philippines could end up a pawn in the imbroglio, saying China and the U.S. do need a pawn but are after the support of countries in the region for their respective positions.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, who was at the same press conference, said the newfound interest of the U.S. in the Philippines offers leverage in the existing relations between the two countries.

But he stressed the Philippines should not prejudice its relations with China and ''will have to navigate its way through this international diplomatic complexity.''

Vice President and Foreign Secretary Teofisto Guingona told a separate press conference that because of the existing Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines, any external aggression on either the Philippines or the U.S. would obligate the other to come to the rescue.

''It's like we are married...,'' he said.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing are expected to flare up anew over the current visit to the United States of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian en route to his five-nation tour of Latin America and by the meeting between the U.S. president and secretary of state with the Dalai Lama.

Chen is due to return to the United States on the weekend of June 2-3 for a trip to Houston.

China regards Taiwan as a province and has criticized Washington for granting Chen a visa.

The visits by the Taiwan and Tibetan leaders to the U.S. come on the heels of a diplomatic row between the U.S. and China over the collision between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet in April.

China held the 24-member U.S. crew for 11 days after the crew made an emergency landing on Hainan Island in southern China.