Manila: The Philippines and the United States renewed on Tuesday their decades-long alliance and pledged to defend freedom of navigation and the lawful use of the seas amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. The commitment came following the 12th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, which discussed ways to prevent conflict and ensure that sea lanes remain open to all nations.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the two sides issued a joint statement describing Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea as "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive," warning that such actions threaten regional peace and stability as well as the economies of the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a free, open, prosperous, and secure region grounded in respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The statement said the two allies agreed to maintain a vigilant posture to prevent conflict and develop strong deterrence measures to ensure that maritime routes are not subject to arbitrary control by any single state. "Collective defense is a critical element in preventing and deterring aggression anywhere within the first island chain," it added.
The sides underscored support for freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce and other lawful uses of the sea for all states. They also reaffirmed the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which covers any armed attack on either party's armed forces, aircraft, or public vessels, including coast guard ships, anywhere in the Pacific, including the West Philippine Sea.
Furthermore, they pledged to enhance maritime domain awareness, expand joint exercises such as Balikatan, and strengthen cooperation with allies, including Japan and Australia, to deter aggression and ensure sea lanes remain open. The statement noted the implementation of more than 500 military exercises and exchanges since 2024 and the deployment of advanced capabilities such as the NMESIS anti-ship missile system, alongside US investments in Philippine defense infrastructure under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).