US affirms commitment to MDT, VFA with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines —The United States, under the new administration of President Joe Biden, has reaffirmed its commitment to the US-Philippine alliance.

In a phone call to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said such commitment is anchored on the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement between the two countries.

The Department of National Defense (DND) said Lorenzana and Austin had an introductory phone call to discuss developments on Philippines-US defense relations.

Both also discussed the security situation in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), particularly on the capability upgrades of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The DND said both sides likewise committed to sustain dialogue amid the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen cooperation between the two defense establishments.

Austin and Lorenzana, who had admitted that the Chinese Coast Guard’s new law affecting the West Philippine Sea is very concerning, further agreed to meet face to face in the future.

Lorenzana had earlier said that speaking with the country’s allies is one way to help address the issue, though the US and other claimant countries are already conducting patrols in the disputed areas.

The defense chief noted that Americans are also “very concerned about the creeping influence of the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea, and there are several countries who have indicated their willingness to patrol the area like Britain, New Zealand, Australia and even India.”

“We are going to continue (engaging in) dialogue with these countries and to find ways on how to move forward and as I said, it’s difficult to figure in an accident there, it might cause open conflict,” he said.