Defense News:

The U.S. and the Philippines unveiled guidance on Wednesday to modernize their alliance in the face of an increasingly assertive China, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits Washington this week.

The Pentagon released the bilateral defense guidelines to modernize cooperation after Marcos’ meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

“Secretary Austin and President Marcos reaffirmed the United States and the Philippines’ ironclad alliance commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and their shared resolve to defend against armed attacks on their aircraft, public vessels, and armed forces – to include their respective Coast Guards – in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea,” Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

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