Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Filipino and U.S. soldiers carry their flags during a ceremony to mark U.S. Veterans Day at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial on Nov. 11, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771303138163Screen Shot 2026-02-17 at 12.38.43 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipino and U.S. soldiers carry their flags during a ceremony to mark U.S. Veterans Day at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial on Nov. 11, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File<br/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines and the United States on Monday strengthened their alliance to prevent maritime conflict in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the US Embassy said, amid China’s continuing aggression in the disputed area. </p><p>“They committed to maintaining a vigilant posture in the Indo-Pacific to prevent conflict and to developing strong measures along with the deterrence to keep sea lanes open and not subject to arbitrary control by one country,” US embassy said in a statement. </p><p>Representatives of the two countries met for the 12th Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD), wherein they discussed political, security, and economic cooperation, challenges, strategic bilateral priorities, and new collaborative initiatives. </p><p>The US Embassy noted that “collective defense is critical to denying and deterring aggression anywhere in the First Island Chain.”</p><p>The First Island Chain is the string of territories under the control of America&#x27;s regional allies, including the Philippines, forming a barrier enclosing China&#x27;s coastal seas, according to a Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigations/narrow-pacific-waterway-is-heart-us-plans-choke-chinas-vast-navy-2025-10-31/">report</a>.  </p><p>The Philippines and United States&#x27; officials reaffirmed the countries’ commitment to the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/17/philippines-too-accommodating-to-the-chinese-says-historian-0831">Philippines &#x27;too accommodating&#x27; to the Chinese, says historian</a></div><p>The embassy noted that US condemns “China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities in the South China Sea.”</p><p>The representing officials also committed to enhancing the Philippines’ capacity to monitor and respond to maritime challenges and illegal activities, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as to increase US&#x27; missile and unmanned systems in the Philippines. </p><p>It said the Philippines and US will use available foreign military financing to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, and enhance collective defense and deterrence.</p><p>They also vowed to hold the fourth bilateral maritime dialogue and a foreign minister-level trilateral policy dialogue with Japan.</p><p>They also promised to expand and modernize the Philippines’ civilian and military cyber defense capabilities and ability to detect and disrupt cyber threats.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/17/chinese-warships-shadow-ph-us-australia-drills-in-west-philippine-sea-0825">Chinese warships shadow PH-US-Australia drills in West Philippine Sea</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>DISASTER RESPONSE, ECONOMY, CRIME</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>During the meeting, the Philippines and US also committed to enhancing its joint capabilities to support civilian-led disaster response. </p><p>US said it will continue to provide relief commodities for the Philippines&#x27; civilian disaster response authorities at key Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites and coordinate military support to civilian-led disaster responses.</p><p>They recognized the need for mutually beneficial economic engagement in strengthening the alliance, and endorsed cooperation on energy supply, resilience, and critical infrastructure. </p><p>Both countries also noted they will counter international crime, narcotics flow, and instability caused by illegal immigration, and will uphold freedom of expression and other human rights. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/2/16/lawyer-gives-tips-for-tnt-filipinos-in-us-amid-trump-immigration-crackdown-1221">Lawyer gives tips for &#x27;TNT&#x27; Filipinos in US amid Trump&#x27;s immigration crackdown</a></div><p>They pledged to deepen diplomatic and law enforcement cooperation to combat cybercrime, online scam centers, and the production and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, as well as to discuss challenges and solutions to disrupt terrorist travel.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/2/marcos-jr-convenes-palace-meeting-to-review-asean-hosting-preparations-1445">Marcos Jr. convenes Palace meeting to review ASEAN hosting preparations</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3WjKxANDanY?si=Jks_lYletfT_0Hle" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Philippines and the United States on Monday strengthened their alliance to prevent maritime conflict in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the US Embassy said, amid China’s continuing aggression in the disputed area. </p>

The Philippines and the United States on Monday strengthened their alliance to prevent maritime conflict in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the US Embassy said, amid China’s continuing aggression in the disputed area.

PH, US strengthen alliance to prevent conflict in West PH Sea

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PH, US strengthen alliance to prevent conflict in West PH Sea

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 17, 2026 12:50 PM PHT

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