Philippines, United States eye more joint patrols in South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines — The United States and the Philippines discussed increasing the frequency of combined maritime activities and joint patrols to support the Philippines’ lawful exercise of its rights in the South China Sea, the US Department of Defense said.

A readout of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III’s meeting with President Marcos said they discussed opportunities to deepen bilateral planning and operational cooperation.

Marcos and Austin also agreed to accelerate a number of bilateral initiatives to enhance information-sharing, interoperability and capability enhancements for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

They applauded the April 7 maritime cooperative activity within the Philippine exclusive economic zone with Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the US, an example of the ways the two countries are working more closely with like-minded nations to strengthen shared principles, including the rule of law, freedom of the seas, and respect for territorial sovereignty.

Austin reaffirmed US support of the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and he reiterated that the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to both countries’ armed forces, public vessels and aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.

“The leaders’ meeting – their second at the Pentagon in less than a year – reaffirmed the United States and the Philippines’ enduring commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as allies to bring greater security, prosperity, and stability to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” the statement read.

Austin hosted Marcos at the Pentagon on April 12.

The secretary and Marcos underscored the historic strength of the US-Philippines alliance, which both countries are expanding and modernizing in support of a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Both expressed support for growing alliance initiatives to expand interoperability.

The US defense chief highlighted that President Joseph Biden’s budget request for fiscal year 2025 – which seeks $128 million to execute 36 projects at Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites – would be more than double the amount that the Department of Defense has invested in EDCA infrastructure since the inception of the agreement.

Austin expressed his support for Philippine military modernization, highlighting the department’s strong commitment to the AFP through this year’s budget and bilateral efforts to finalize a multi-year Security Sector Assistance Roadmap.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and National Security Advisor Eduardo Año also participated in the meeting between Austin and Marcos.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Austin and Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and their Philippine counterparts met following Biden’s bilateral meeting with Marcos and the first Japan-Philippines-US Trilateral Leaders’ Summit on April 11. They reaffirmed both countries’ shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and discussed ways to deepen coordination against shared challenges in the South China Sea.