US, Philippines vow to address ‘flashpoints’ in boost to security ties
- Manila hosted dialogue with its top defence ally as part of efforts to restore a seven-decade partnership that was unsettled by Rodrigo Duterte
- Bound by a 1951 mutual defence treaty, the two countries agreed to hold talks in mid-2023 that would allow their governments to ‘plan ahead’
The United States and the Philippines have vowed to “invigorate” defence cooperation to address shared security concerns including disputes over the South China Sea.
Manila hosted a high-level security dialogue with its top defence ally as part of efforts by President Ferdinand Marcos to restore a seven-decade partnership that was unsettled by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.
The allies agreed “to invigorate defence and security cooperation and ensure the alliance adapts effectively to face new and emerging challenges”, a joint statement said.
“I can assure you that during our conversations, the important issues related to the South China Sea were central to our conversations,” US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink told a news conference.
China and the Philippines are at odds over the South China Sea, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over almost the entire area despite an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims to parts of the sea.