US assures Philippines that it is doing all it can to reduce tension in Taiwan Strait

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday that Washington is determined to reduce tensions in the Taiwan Strait amid Chinese military exercises organized in retaliation for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island.

“We always support our partners,” Blinken told reporters after his meeting with the Philippine president. “We have heard from allies and partners across the region their deep concern about China’s destabilizing and dangerous actions,” he has said.

Blinken has assured that Washington will keep lines of communication open with Beijing to avoid misunderstandings, while working with regional organizations and allies to ensure peace and stability across the Strait.

“Our allies and partners across the region have told us in no uncertain terms that they are looking for responsible leadership at this time,” he said before declaring that “the United States does not believe that Taiwan, the region or our own national security have an interest in escalating the situation.”

Blinken has also urged Beijing to “focus on the fact that for over 40 years we have handled this problem well,” as he described China’s sovereign ambitions over Taiwan. “I think those are the expectations that countries in the region and the world have,” he added.