On Tuesday, the foreign and defense ministers of the United States and the Philippines convened in Manila to enhance their coordination on South China Sea matters amid escalating Chinese military actions. Washington is anticipated to announce $500 million in defense aid.
Prior to the security discussions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Philippine counterparts Enrique Manalo and Gilberto Teodoro, as well as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the Malacanang Palace.
According to a Defense Department statement, Blinken reaffirmed US commitment to assisting the Philippines in protecting its sovereign rights. The officials discussed collaboration with allies such as Australia and Japan to uphold the rule of law, maritime freedom, and territorial sovereignty.
This “two-plus-two” dialogue marked the first such meeting in the Philippines, succeeding the previous session in April 2023 in Washington.
In April, the two nations announced plans to finalize the General Security of Military Information Agreement, a military intelligence-sharing pact, by the end of 2024.
Tuesday’s discussions occurred after several confrontations between the Philippines and China near contested areas in the South China Sea. On June 17, Chinese coast guard vessels collided with multiple Philippine inflatable boats, resulting in a Filipino soldier losing a finger.
Despite a 2016 international tribunal decision nullifying its extensive claims, China has maintained an assertive stance in the resource-rich South China Sea.