Manila: The Philippines and the United States have reaffirmed their decades-long alliance, committing to defend freedom of navigation and lawful use of the seas amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.
According to Philippines News Agency, a joint statement was issued by the U.S. Embassy in Manila following the 12th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) held in the city. The statement highlighted concerns over China's 'illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive' activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which threaten regional peace, stability, and the economies of the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
The statement underscored both nations' unwavering commitment to maintaining a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific, grounded in mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law, and peaceful resolution of disputes. It emphasized a commitment to a vigilant posture in the Indo-Pacific to prevent conflict, alongside developing strong deterrence measures to ensure open sea lanes free from arbitrary control by any single nation.
The reaffirmation of the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) was a key highlight, extending the treaty's scope to armed attacks against either country's armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels, including coast guards, anywhere in the Pacific, including the WPS. Both countries pledged to bolster maritime domain awareness, expand joint exercises like Balikatan, and enhance cooperation with allies including Japan and Australia to deter aggression and ensure open sea lanes.
The dialogue also emphasized economic collaboration, with both nations reaffirming commitments to strengthen the Luzon Economic Corridor, expand critical minerals supply chains, and develop energy and nuclear infrastructure to support long-term regional security. These efforts aim to reduce strategic vulnerabilities, demonstrate a long-term commitment to Philippine sovereignty, and support sustained economic growth.
Additionally, both sides committed to ongoing counterterrorism cooperation and discussed their longstanding partnership to promote bilateral and regional peace and security. The dialogue included efforts to counter international crime, tackle the dangerous flow of narcotics, address instability from illegal immigration, and uphold freedom of expression and other human rights.
As the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, the dialogue underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and stability, opposing the use or threat of force against the sovereignty of any state, including in the Taiwan Strait. They also agreed to conduct a foreign minister-level trilateral policy dialogue with Japan and maintain close coordination on shared priorities to ensure a secure, prosperous, and stable Indo-Pacific.
