The President of the world’s powerful nation, President Barack Obama of the United States of America said on Wednesday that China must stop land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the defense and security of the Philippines.
The 54-year-old President of the United States, Pres. Obama who speaks after a meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, he noted that he looked forward to working with all claimants to the waterway to resolve the disputes in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.
Pres. Obama was quoted as saying “We discussed the impact of China’s reclamation and construction activities on regional stability. We agreed on the need for bold steps to lower tensions including pledging to halt further reclamation, new construction, and militarization of disputed areas in the South China Sea,” said Obama.
Aside from urging the powerhouse country in Asia, the People’s Republic of China, President Obama also visited an American-donated Coast Guard cutter now owned by the Philippine Navy, their flagship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.
During the earlier briefing with Pres. Obama, Pres. Aquino of the Philippines agreed with Pres. Obama that laws on the freedom of navigation at sea should be upheld.
Pres. Obama also gave the assurance that the US has a “rock solid commitment to the defense of the Philippines” as the validity of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) hangs before the Supreme Court.