The Philippines and the United States have reaffirmed that they are committed to their alliance. This comes after they accused China of engaging in dangerous actions in the South China Sea earlier this week.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro spoke with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin by telephone on Friday. They discussed the collisions between Chinese and Philippine vessels that occurred near the South China Sea's Second Thomas Shoal.

The defense secretaries issued a joint statement after their telephone meeting. They said China's dangerous and unlawful maneuvers caused the collisions.
They also said that the incidents put the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew at risk. They added that the defense treaty between the two nations extends to public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces anywhere in the Pacific.

US President Joe Biden spoke about the matter at the White House on Wednesday. He said Washington's defense commitment to the Philippines is "iron-clad."

Manila insists the Second Thomas Shoal is within its exclusive economic zone. This runs counter to Beijing's claim that it has jurisdiction over almost all of the South China Sea.