MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government defended its allies Monday from accusations made by China that they are intervening in the West Philippine Sea dispute.
At a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the United States, Australia and Japan have interests in the disputed areas to protect freedom of navigation.
“A big percentage of world’s trade passes through our waters, the waters that is a subject of dispute right now. Do they have an interest? Yes they have an interest because of freedom of navigation,” Lacierda said.
China on Monday asked the three nations to refrain from dipping their hands into the disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
The US, Australia and Japan issued a joint statement opposing the "coercive or unilateral actions" in maritime disputes during a trilateral strategic dialogue at the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Bali, Indonesia.
China and Japan are in a long-standing row over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. China is also in a territorial dispute with Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over the Spratly Islands.
source: interaksyon.com
