As Biden skips Southeast Asia summits, is the US losing influence in the region?
Biden’s absence has been attributed to pressing domestic concerns, including the demands of the presidential election and recovery efforts from recent hurricanes.
Matteo Piasentini in asian news
US offer to escort Philippines’ ships in South China Sea risks clashes with Beijing
Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, told reporters on Tuesday that the “escort of one vessel to the other is an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT)”, depending on consultations between both countries.
South China Sea: when should Philippines invoke its US Mutual Defence Treaty?
In the aftermath, the US State Department issued a statement reminding Beijing “that Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its coastguard – anywhere in the South China Sea”.
France and Philippines elevate defence ties with historic air force mission first
“Noticeably, in the past three years, Paris has expanded its defence cooperation with the Philippines. A deeper, more comprehensive agreement seems like a natural progression,” said Don McLain Gill, geopolitical analyst and lecturer at De La Salle University’s Department of International Studies.
Philippines braces for Taiwan fallout as ‘bolder’ Japan challenges Beijing
The Philippines, which has some 200,000 workers in Taiwan, faces its own challenges if conflict erupts. Geopolitical analyst Matteo Piasentini cautioned that “the concern may be real” as Beijing had already warned Manila not to “play with fire” when it comes to the Taiwan issue “if it cares about those workers”.