US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines during a call with his counterpart in Manila in the face of geopolitical tensions in South China Sea.

China has conducted military patrols in the South China Sea while the Philippines was holding joint naval drills with the U.S., Japan and Australia, saying Manila is undermining Beijing's claims in the region.

Three Chinese Navy warships sailed through Philippine territory as tensions escalated over the South China Sea. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) vessels reportedly violated maritime protocols as they entered Philippine archipelagic waters without proper identification,