DFA chief tells Blinken Asia can ill afford escalation of Taiwan tensions

August 7, 2022 - 9:13 AM
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a virtual joint news conference with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo at the Peninsula Hotel in Manila, Philippines, August 6, 2022. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters)

 The Philippines foreign minister on Saturday told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the region can ill afford an escalation of regional tensions over the Taiwan Strait.

Blinken, in a virtual meeting with Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, said Washington was determined to avoid a crisis. He also stressed that relations between the two defense treaty allies have never been more important.

—Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Writing by Martin PettyEditing by Shri Navaratnam