A phone call was held between Secretary of National Defense, Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, solidifying the enduring defense alliance between the Philippines and the US.
Expressing condolences for recent tragic events, Secretary Austin conveyed sympathy for the victims of the December 3 bombing at the Mindanao State University (MSU) and the casualties resulting from earthquakes in Mindanao.
In response to the US’ firm support regarding incidents of harassment against Philippine vessels, Secretary Teodoro emphasized the Philippines’ sovereign right to address evolving security concerns through capability build-up and continued conduct of rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) missions.
According to DND Spokesperson Director Arsenio Andolong , the two Secretaries condemned coercive and unprovoked actions, and dangerous maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea.
Commending the professionalism of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Secretary Austin reiterated the ironclad commitment of the US to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) 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 (USINDOPACOM) in November, and welcomed increased cooperation with likeminded partners to include the conduct of bilateral and multilateral maritime activities, among others.
Base on the readout shared to media by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Rydert: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. spoke by phone. The Secretaries discussed coercive and unlawful actions by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea over the weekend, including the unprovoked use of acoustic devices, water cannons, and reckless maneuvers at Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal, which caused a collision and damage to lawfully operating Philippine vessels in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
The meeting concluded with the two defense officials committing to uphold the maintenance of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, Director Andolong added.
