US will be 'good ally' to Philippines in South China Sea dispute
The US will be ‘a good ally’ to the Philippines in responding to territorial conflicts in the South China Sea, a US defence official said on 16 August.
Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, gave the assurance as tensions rise over China's aggressive stance towards its claims to most of the strategic waterway.
Speaking to reporters at the US embassy in Manila, Schriver was asked if the US, which is bound to the Philippines by a mutual defence treaty, would help the country if China invaded the main Filipino-occupied island in the South China Sea.
Schriver said: ‘We'll be a good ally... there should be no misunderstanding or lack of clarity on the spirit and the nature of our commitment. We'll help the Philippines respond accordingly.’
China and the Philippines, along with several other Asian nations, have conflicting claims to parts of the South China Sea, which is believed to contain vast mineral resources.
China has built up heavily defended artificial islands in the sea and Philippine observers have expressed concern in recent weeks over aggressive Chinese radio warnings to foreign planes against approaching them.
However Schriver said US forces would continue to fly and sail in those waters.
He said: ‘We've seen an increase in this kind of challenge from China, not only directed at us but others. This kind of challenge will not result in a change of our behaviour. We'll not allow them to rewrite the rules of the road or change international law.’
Since he took office in mid-2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been moving the country's relations away from its traditional ally the US and towards China and Russia.
Schriver also cautioned the Philippines against buying large-scale weapons like submarines from Russia as some local officials have suggested.
He said: ‘I don't think that's a helpful thing to the (US-Philippine) alliance and ultimately I think we can be a better partner than the Russians.’
More from Defence Notes
-
![Defence companies continue to ride procurement wave]()
Defence companies continue to ride procurement wave
Vehicle and technology companies are reporting substantial growth compared to the first half of 2024. Italy’s Fincantieri saw revenues jump 24% for the first half of the year compared to 2024 and Thales up 6.8% for the same period. General Dynamics reported second quarter revenue growth of 8.9% for the second quarter compared to last year and MilDef reported organic order intake growth of 58%.
-
![Singapore plots a way forward with new technology and formation reform]()
Singapore plots a way forward with new technology and formation reform
Singapore spends about 3.5% of GDP on defence and the section’s budget sits on high on the proportion of national spending. The country is investing in uncrewed technology, medium- and long-range fires and new submarines and ships with the hunt also on for new maritime patrol aircraft.
-
![World Defense Show promises bigger and better event for 2026]()
World Defense Show promises bigger and better event for 2026
At this year's IDEF in Istanbul, Shephard spoke to World Defense Show (WDS) CEO Andrew Pearcey about his event's strategic role in Saudi Arabia, its themes and new features for 2026 and how it has grown since its launch in 2022.
-
![Ireland to increase defence capital spending by more than half to $2 billion]()
Ireland to increase defence capital spending by more than half to $2 billion
Ireland has struggled to meet its defence needs in the face of historical underinvestment, current limited funding and its status as a neutral country. Flush with bonus but possibly unreliable tax receipts, the government has committed additional defence capital spending for the rest of the decade.
-
![France unveils new strategic review as Macron vows to accelerate defence spend]()
France unveils new strategic review as Macron vows to accelerate defence spend
The 2025 National Strategic Review highlights the importance of readiness against a growing Russian threat and was published days after a speech from the French President Macron who called for an increase in defence spending worth €6.5 billion by 2027.
-
![Europe turns to industrial and procurement co-operation with Ukraine as supplies continue]()
Europe turns to industrial and procurement co-operation with Ukraine as supplies continue
Equipment has continued to flow into Ukraine from the European Union (EU), NATO and western countries as the war against Russia continues but other types of support with longer-term prospects are appearing.
