Manila unfazed by marine issue

Manila unfazed by marine issue

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): The Philippines is not unduly concerned about its security in the South China Sea as the United States has pledged to protect it in the event of an attack, Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said on Friday.

Siazon, in Kuala Lumpur for a bilateral meeting, was asked whether the Philippines was worried that the exit of U.S. troops from its bases had emboldened China into intruding in areas of the Spratly islands claimed by the Manila.

The Spratlys are a cluster of islands, reefs and rocky outcrops claimed wholly or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

Meanwhile, Malaysia told the Philippines on Friday there was "no hidden agenda" in its help for Muslim Filipinos in the south of the archipelago, scene of a sporadic Muslim revolt for two decades.