US, Philippines vow to boost security ties to address 'flashpoints'
21/1/2023 7:51
The United States and the Philippines vowed Friday (Jan 20) to "invigorate" defence cooperation to address shared security concerns including disputes over the South China Sea. Manila hosted a high-level security dialogue with its top defence ally as part of efforts by President Ferdinand Marcos to restore a seven-decade partnership that was unsettled by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. The allies agreed "to invigorate defence and security cooperation and ensure the alliance adapts effectively to face new and emerging challenges", a joint statement said. China and the Philippines are at odds over the South China Sea, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over almost the entire area despite an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims to parts of the sea.
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