MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) 鈥� Philippine Defense Secretary said Tuesday that he didn't expect President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 next administration would demand that the Philippines pay more for military protection because both allies faced the shared threat of China.
Teodoro was speaking at a news conference with Australian Defense Minister following an inaugural bilateral annual meeting aimed at improving security ties.
Asked if Trump would expect the Philippines, like Taiwan, to , Teodoro replied: 鈥淚 really don鈥檛 expect some sort of a statement from Mr. Trump, hopefully not.鈥�
鈥淚 really don鈥檛 have any preconditions or any assumptions as to what will be the outcome of this administration, except on what we are working on 鈥� on institutional ties,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e have an interest, both the United States and the Philippines, in ensuring that our partnership continues because 鈥� not totally, but principally 鈥� ... of shared threats. And that is undoubtedly the overreach and the aggressive and illegal activities of China,鈥� he added.
Marles said that Australia had been confident that regardless of the U.S. presidential election outcome, Australia鈥檚 alliance with Washington would remain in 鈥済ood shape.鈥�
鈥淲hat we see in the election of President Trump and in the formation of his administration, is an administration which will maintain America鈥檚 role of leadership in the world, which is really important in terms of maintaining the global rules-based order, which is very much in Australia鈥檚 national interest,鈥� Marles said.
Last week, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed reaffirming the extent of his country鈥檚 maritime territories and right to resources, including in the angering China, which claims the hotly disputed waterway almost in its entirety.
China鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said it summoned the Philippine ambassador to China to lodge a 鈥渟tern protest.鈥� The ministry condemned the move as an attempt to 鈥渟olidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation.鈥�
Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea passage have spiked alarmingly since last year. That has sparked fears that the United States 鈥� Manila鈥檚 longtime treaty ally 鈥� may get drawn in a major conflict.
The laws, called the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, were signed by Marcos in a nationally televised ceremony attended by top military and national security officials. They further cement Manila鈥檚 rejection of China鈥檚 claims to virtually the entire sea passage, and stipulate jail terms and stiff fines for violators.
Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press
