Manila — In the wake of China's recent aggressive action against Filipino ships in Ayungin Shoal, the defense secretaries of the Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the two nations.
According to a news release by Philippines News Agency, and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) following a conference call on Friday, Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III discussed the incident on October 22. The secretaries specifically addressed the People's Republic of China's (PRC) "dangerous and unlawful maneuvers that caused collisions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships, putting the safety of Philippine vessels and crew at risk."
During the same call, Austin reinforced the U.S. support for the Philippines, noting that the MDT extends to public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces of both countries, including their respective Coast Guards, anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.
Both defense chiefs also committed to intensify efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination, interoperability, and support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. "Secretary Austin reiterated his commitment to the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific is ironclad," the joint statement said.
Teodoro and Austin also praised the recent military cooperation between Manila and Washington DC. This included a bilateral sail conducted last month off the coast of Palawan. The defense secretaries committed to increasing the pace and scope of U.S.-Philippines engagements.
Looking ahead, both officials anticipate meeting in person in Jakarta during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus.