Phl, US defense chiefs decry China’s coercive, unprovoked acts in WPS

Philippine Department of National Defense Gilberto Jr. and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III jointly condemned China's "coercive and unprovoked actions as well as dangerous maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea.

In a phone call on Wednesday (US time), Teodoro said the Philippines is adamant about exercising sovereign rights in the WPS as well as addressing evolving security concerns through capability build-up and continued conduct of rotation and re-provisioning (RORE) missions

"The two Secretaries condemned coercive and unprovoked actions, and dangerous maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea," DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong told defense reporters on Thursday.

Andolong noted that Austin commended the professionalism of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in managing the escalating tension in the WPS.

Austin also reiterated the ironclad commitment of the US to the Mutual Defense Treaty and the treaty's applicability to armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft – including Coast Guards – anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.

"The Secretaries recalled the productive discussions during the President's visit to the US Indo-Pacific Command in November, and welcomed increased cooperation with like-minded partners to include the conduct of bilateral and multilateral maritime activities, among others," Andolong said.

Meanwhile, Teodoro and Austin renewed their commitment to uphold the maintenance of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a readout from Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder, the Philippines, and the US have agreed to intensify their bilateral and multilateral coordination with other countries amid the increasingly aggressive acts from China claims in the WPS.

"They agreed to bolster bilateral and multilateral coordination with other like-minded partners to enhance interoperability and accelerate the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," the readout stated.

Teodoro and Austin tackled their plan to further boost both countries' coordination after the repeated water cannon and a ramming incident involving the vessels of the Philippines and China in the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal last Sunday.

It happened a day after the China Coast Guard also water cannoned the vessels operated by the country's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, headed Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) to distribute supplies to fisherfolks and troops stationed in the area.

According to the readout, Austin expressed support for the Philippines in "defending its sovereign rights in accordance with international law."

The US described China's use of water cannons and acoustics devices against Philippine vessels were "unprovoked."

It also condemned Chinese vessels' "reckless maneuvers" that caused a collision and damage to "lawfully operating" Philippine vessels in the WPS and its exclusive economic zone.

Teodoro and Austin solidified "the enduring defense alliance between the Philippines and the US."

On the other hand, Austin also expressed condolences and conveyed the United States' sympathy for the victims of the bombing incident at a gymnasium inside Mindanao State University in Marawi City last 3 December, as well as to those severely hit and casualties of the series of earthquakes and Mindanao.