US to boost military alliance with Philippines as South China Sea tensions grow

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the US would continue to conduct freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea

He stressed that such acts send a clear message that all countries should abide by international laws

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US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper and his Philippine counterpart Delfin Lorenzana. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:30pm, 19 Nov 2019Updated: 4:23pm, 10 Dec 2019

United States Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday vowed more support for the Philippines in efforts to modernise the country’s military and improve maritime security as tensions build over the disputed South China Sea.

Esper, who was in Manila for a one-day visit, said he and Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana discussed various ways to strengthen cooperation and further boost the two countries’ decades-old alliance.

“The United States will continue to support and to help modernise the Philippines armed forces and to improve maritime security and domain awareness,” he told a press conference after their meeting.

“We look forward to train in future joint air and maritime patrols to improve our interoperability and to demonstrate our commitment to upholding the long-standing international rules and norms,” he said.

Esper said the US would continue to conduct freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea, despite warnings by China against such activities, stressing that such acts send a clear message that all countries should abide by international laws.