U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty

Philippines warns China may exploit US-South Korea drill cuts

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro warns that Beijing could exploit cuts to US-South Korea drills to reassert itself in the Indo-Pacific, while Manila has received definite assurances that US commitments to the Philippines remain unchanged. He also notes Manila’s expanding security ties with the US and other partners as tensions in the region persist and cautions about China’s use of influence operations.