PH, US agree to restart joint maritime patrols in South China Sea | Global News

PH, US agree to restart joint maritime patrols in South China Sea

/ 05:53 PM February 03, 2023
The Philippines and the United States have agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea in light of the “shared regional security challenges” that both countries face.

Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States have agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea in light of the “shared regional security challenges” that both countries face.

The decision was reached during the meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Department of National Defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr., according to the readout issued by the US Department of Defense on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Both leaders exchanged views on shared regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and underscored the importance of close operational coordination,” the readout stated.

“The two leaders agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea to help address these challenges,” it added.

FEATURED STORIES

Both countries also reaffirmed the Mutual Defense Treaty with China’s continued assertiveness in the regional waters in mind.

Austin, in a press conference Thursday, said the treaty between longtime allies is particularly important as China “continues to advance its illegitimate claims” in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines has also granted the US access to more of its military bases after both countries agreed to four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites in the country.

Galvez did not divulge the location of the four new sites, but military officials have already previously identified  Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela, and Palawan as possible sites. These areas face either the West Philippine Sea or Taiwan, the country’s closest northern neighbor.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meanwhile, Austin and Galvez agreed to meet again in Spring 2023 at a Ministerial-level 2+2 meeting in Washington, D.C.

RELATED STORY:

Military names 5 more Edca sites 

JPV
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Read Next
Don't miss out on the latest news and information.

Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.

TAGS: China, EDCA, Maritime, patrol, Philippines, United States, US
For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our global news

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.



© Copyright 1997-2023 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more, please click this link.