US, Philippines establish ground rules to counter China in South China Sea and Taiwan Strait

Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s visit to Washington amid tensions with Beijing yields plan for enhanced intelligence sharing on common ‘threats and challenges’

Clear message sent to China that armed attack in Pacific ‘on either Philippine or US armed forces’ would invoke allies’ mutual defence commitments

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (left) and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin greet dignitaries at the Pentagon in Virginia on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 5:01am, 4 May 2023Updated: 6:26am, 4 May 2023

The United States and the Philippines on Wednesday established ground rules for jointly countering China’s activities in a region that includes the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, outlining enhanced coordination for real-time intelligence sharing.

The Pentagon on Wednesday released guidelines on US-Philippine defence cooperation after US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin met Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, Jnr in Washington.

The Philippine leader is in the midst of a four-day US visit to bolster bilateral security ties amid tensions with China.

Washington and Manila would broaden “information sharing on the principal threats and challenges” to the peace and security of the US and the Philippines, according to a fact sheet relating to the meeting.

The arrangement would entail “a whole-of-government approach to coordinate actions in the event of an anticipated or emergent crisis or contingency”, it added.

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