TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – If a war between Taiwan and China affects the Philippines, Manila may allow the United States to use its military bases to defend Taiwan, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said in an interview Tuesday (June 25).
The diplomat was discussing the possibility of an armed conflict over disputed islands in the South China Sea with the Financial Times. Romualdez emphasized four bases available to the U.S. were intended to strengthen the Philippines’ defense, and were not for use in offensive operations.
However, if Manila’s defense leadership believed that a conflict between Taiwan and China would affect the Philippines, then it would “most likely” agree to the U.S. using the bases in the defense of Taiwan, he said. Romualdez added he hoped it would never happen, but said the Philippines would “play a role in the Asian theatre,” the Financial Times quoted him as saying.
The interview with the British newspaper focused on the escalation of disputes between the Philippines and China over a contested reef, with Romualdez warning of the possibility of nuclear war. Beijing has taken an increasingly aggressive posture, ramming ships and threatening the use of weapons.