The Philippines’ joint patrols with the United States in the South China Sea are within Manila’s rights, and it will continue to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The Philippines is not stirring up trouble,” Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro told reporters. “Our interests are to protect our rights.”
Teodoro said there will be several iterations of joint patrols moving forward.
The treaty allies conducted joint patrols from Tuesday to Thursday in waters near Taiwan and the South China Sea within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), fanning further tensions with China.