US, Philippines to boost military cooperation after 'unlawful' China actions at sea --- ABS-CBN News

MANILA — US and Philippine defense chiefs on Friday said they would "increase the pace and scope" of their engagements, following China's alleged "unlawful" actions that led to two collisions in the West Philippine Sea. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Filipino counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr. earlier Friday discussed in a call the Chinese coast guard and militia vessels' "dangerous and unlawful maneuvers" that caused collisions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships, Manila's defense department said. Austin and Teodoro "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," the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) said. The pact states the two countries will come to each other's defense in case their metropolitan areas or territories are attacked. "Both Secretaries committed to redouble 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 DND said in a press release. The agency added that Austin and Teodoro "commended recent bilateral military cooperation, including the bilateral sail last month off the coast of Palawan, and committed to increase the pace and scope of US-Philippines engagements." The defense chiefs will meet in Jakarta on the margins of the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus. Manila said Monday that Chinese vessels "intentionally hit" Philippine boats which were on a resupply mission for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal last weekend. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning accused the Philippines of "continuing to spread false information and hype things up". Manila's longtime ally Washington has led a chorus of international criticism of China's alleged interference in the resupply mission. "I want to be very clear. The United States defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad," US President Joe Biden said Wednesday. "Any attack on Filipino aircraft, vessels or armed forces will invoke our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines," he added.

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