Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) — The United States supports the Philippines’ independent foreign policy and would not force Manila to take sides amid the perceived geopolitical rivalry between Washington and Beijing, an American official said on Friday.
US Assistant State Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said in a forum organized by the US Embassy in Manila and the De La Salle University that the Philippines is free to decide its national interest.
“Everywhere I go I would be asked, ‘Are you trying to force us to choose between you and China?’ That’s not our game,” said Kritenbrink.
“We don’t want you to choose, we want you to have choices. We want you to be able to make your own decisions and free from coercion. If you can do that, we can do that, together we are better off,” he added.
The US official is in the country for the 10th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue. The ministerial meetings are policy-level platforms for the Philippines and the US to discuss alliance management and the gamut of political, security, and economic cooperation.
Kritenbrink noted the importance of the US Indo-Pacific strategy to include revitalizing relationships with allies and partners including the Philippines.
READ: Marcos on PH foreign policy: I don’t work for Beijing and Washington
Marcos: PH not taking sides between the US, China
President Bongbong Marcos said at a luncheon meeting in Davos, Switzerland that the country’s position will not be influenced by geopolitical rivalries, and it will not be forced to take sides between the two global powers.
Marcos said leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation maintain that they will not return to the Cold War mindset.
“The Philippines is really a friend to all. We are not necessarily leaning towards the west or the east, that we’re very, very balanced in where we are positioned. I think that’s the right strategy,” the president said.
