The Philippines and the United States (US) have agreed upon strengthening bilateral military cooperation following China Coast Guard (CCG) and its maritime militia's "dangerous obstruction" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a joint statement released on Friday, October 27, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert 'Gibo' Teodoro confirmed that they conversed through a phone call and tackled China's recent illegal acts towards two Philippine vessels.
"The Secretaries discussed the incident on October 22, particularly the PRC’s dangerous and unlawful maneuvers that caused collisions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships, putting the safety of Philippine vessels and crew at risk," the statement read.
"The Secretaries reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to both countries’ public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—to include the Coast Guard—anywhere in the Pacific to include the South China Sea," it added.
READ: DND Sec. Gibo Teodoro at US Defense secretary Lloyd Austin, tinalakay ang ‘dangerous obstruction’ ng China malapit sa Ayungin Shoal
— Edniel Parrosa (@ednielparrosa) October 27, 2023
Tiniyak ni Austin ang ‘ironclad’ commitment ng Amerika sa Pilipinas, at idiniin ang Mutual Defense Treaty ng magkaalyadong bansa. @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/boTgnEHbAT
Moreover, both parties "reaffirmed" their commitment to redouble efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination, interoperability, and support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Secretary Austin also stressed that his commitment to the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific is ironclad.
The two defense chiefs commended recent bilateral military cooperation, including the bilateral sail last month off the coast of Palawan, and committed to increasing the pace and scope of U.S.-Philippines engagements.
Both parties are planning to meet in person in Jakarta for the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.
On October 22, the CCG and its maritime militias performed "dangerous blocking maneuvers" towards the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the AFP during a rotating and resupply (RoRe) mission to BRP Sierra Madre that is stationed in Ayungin Shoal.
