US, Australia vow to deter coercion in Indo-Pacific

MANILA, Philippines — US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III renewed the United States’ commitment to Philippine security and said Washington’s treaty commitments “extend to Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea.”

The US and the Philippines agreed to resume defense projects after President Duterte retracted in July the letter that would have terminated the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Austin met with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the Pentagon on Sept. 10 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and discuss ways to deepen the alliance.

Meanwhile, Australia is committed to protecting the maritime trade corridors and maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight and to deter coercion and aggression, Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said.

“Whatever transpires in the Indo-Pacific will not purely affect the nations of our region. The ripples as we know will be felt by others globally. That is why all nations have an interest in ensuring the Indo-Pacific remains stable and prosperous, open and inclusive and that of course includes China,” Dutton remarked before the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia on Wednesday.

The United States, he said, recognizes its enduring role, having identified the Indo-Pacific as its ‘priority theatre’ and building a network of partnerships through the alliance.

Austin and Lorenzana affirmed the enduring nature of the US-Philippines alliance and their shared commitment to building an even stronger foundation for future alliance cooperation.

“Secretary Austin reiterated that the US commitment to Philippine security is ironclad,” the Pentagon said.

Austin mentioned that the two nations recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of the MDT, which was signed on Aug. 30, 1951. That treaty, he said, “remains the bedrock of our alliance.”

“The Philippines is a vital treaty ally. Our countries face a range of 21st century challenges, and cooperation is key to the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific,” Austin said.

Austin expressed his appreciation for the Philippine decision to restore the VFA, which signals a commitment by both sides to enhance the scale and scope of alliance cooperation.

“America is committed to a sovereign and secure Philippines and to building an even stronger alliance based on our foundation of common interest and common values. And I look forward to discussing ways that we can deepen our partnership,” Austin added.

The secretaries also discussed the importance of increased military and security cooperation to support Philippine defense modernization efforts and build alliance interoperability.

They agreed to undertake a number of new initiatives that will ensure the bilateral alliance is postured to address new and emerging challenges.

The Quad partnership – Australia, India, Japan and the US – has committed to expanding safe, affordable, and effective vaccine production, and its equitable access across the Indo-Pacific.

“So I am focused on ensuring Australia’s military activities contribute to stability and to peace. To protecting the maritime trade corridors upon which we all rely and prosper,” Dutton said, citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The defense chief added that the world is “grappling with a regional environment far more complex and far less predictable than at any time since the Second World War.”

He said China has grown increasingly “coercive,” driven by a “zero-sum mentality.”

The Philippines and Australia expressed serious concern over the “dangerous and coercive” use of coast guard vessels and maritime militias in the South China Sea and the continuing militarization of disputed features.