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Pia Lee-Brago - The Philippine Star
February 12, 2026 | 12:00am
This undated image shows the US Embassy in Manila, Philippines.
Philstar.com / File
MANILA, Philippines — The United States has underscored that Washington remains firmly committed to the security of the Philippines especially in response to China’s increased aggression in the South China Sea.
“Our shared values and commitment to a free, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific make Philippine concerns US concerns especially in response to China’s increased aggression in the South China Sea,” Chargé d’Affaires Y. Robert Ewing of the US embassy said at the US-Philippines Society Trilateral Panel on Tuesday.
Ewing said US commitment to Philippine security is outlined in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and the alliance has grown stronger for 75 years.
He added that 2025 marked an exceptional chapter for the Philippines, Japan and the US as the three countries’ collaboration produced results that clearly demonstrate the strength of trilateral partnership.
During the 2025 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, then-foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace, stability and freedom of navigation.
During the Balikatan 2025, the US-Philippines military exercise also welcomed Japan as a participant, while the 2025 joint Coast Guard exercise off Kagoshima brought together 350 personnel from all three countries to respond to high-seas emergencies.
The US, Ewing said, welcomes additional partners who share the commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The Philippines also signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals supply chains with the US during the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting on Feb. 4 in Washington.
Meanwhile, boosting the Philippine Navy’s maritime domain awareness and coastal defense capabilities, the Japanese government handed five coastal radar systems to the Philippines yesterday under Japan’s Official Security Assistance program.
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya joined Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. in a turnover ceremony at the Department of National Defense main office at Camp Aguinaldo. — Michael Punongbayan
