U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY Mark Esper has met recently with his Filipino counterpart to discuss a broad range of shared security interests and priorities, and pledged to expand cooperation and strengthen bilateral alliance.
Esper and Lorenzana also reiterated the Mutual Defense Treaty’s applicability to the entire Pacific region, including the South China Sea (SCS).
Both have reiterated their commitment to uphold freedom of navigation, over-flight, other lawful uses of the sea in the SCS, stressing the importance of peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
And they also committed to focus on developing capabilities and enhancing cooperation in both the maritime and aerial domains through the conduct of Philippines-U.S. Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board activities that address traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
In his November 2017 visit to Manila, President Donald Trump was told by President Rodrigo Duterte that the U.S. and the Philippines remain a strong ally. “We are your ally. We are an important ally,” Duterte said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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