SUMMARY
MANILA, Philippines – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines and criticized as “dangerous” China’s use of water cannon and disruption of a Philippine resupply mission last week.
In a phone call on Wednesday with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, Austin “reaffirmed the ironclad US commitment to the Philippines” following Chinese obstruction at the Second Thomas Shoal “of a lawful Philippine resupply mission,” said a statement from the Pentagon.
Austin emphasised support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction, it said.
The Philippines routinely sends boats to the Second Thomas Shoal to deliver supplies to a small group of its soldiers posted to guard a wa…