UK minister for Asia meets with Philippines officials
MANILA, Philippines — The United Kingdom’s Minister for Asia Amanda Milling has renewed the British government’s commitment to work with the region on maritime security and the battle against COVID-19.
Milling, who visited the Philippines from Oct. 7 to 9, met with senior government officials to further explore ways of strengthening bilateral relationship.
Her visit to the country, which formed part of her Asia tour, was the first by a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office minister since the UK’s confirmation as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner in August.
During her three-day trip, Milling discussed trade and investment, climate change, regional security, COVID-19 pandemic and human rights with government officials.
“The Indo-Pacific is of huge strategic importance to the UK. In the Philippines, a founding member of ASEAN, I reiterated our commitment to working with the region on vital issues such as maritime security and building back better after COVID-19,” she said.
While in Manila, she also met with business leaders from British companies and local journalists to discuss media freedom.
Milling’s arrival coincided with 75 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and the Philippines. It also marked the first stop on her tour of the Indo-Pacific which includes visits to Singapore and Japan.
The Philippines expressed support to the establishment of an enhanced trilateral security alliance called “AUKUS” or Australia, United Kingdom and the United States to work together to safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and boost security deterrence against China in the region.
The Philippines is continuously assessing the implications of the AUKUS Trilateral Security Partnership and Manila sees it as restoring and keeping the balance of power in the region, rather than destabilizing it, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
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