On May 3, 2023, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Philippine Secretary of the Department of National Defense Carlito Galvez established the Bilateral Defense Guidelines reaffirming mutual defense commitments in the event of an armed attack against their forces in the Pacific and anywhere in the South China Sea. "Recognizing that threats may arise in several … [Read more...] about Philippines, US reaffirm mutual defense in Pacific, South China Sea region