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.

The air forces of the Philippines and the US held joint patrols over the South China Sea on Tuesday (Feb 4), a move that angered China, which also conducted a "routine patrol" over a disputed shoal. The Philippines and the US have ramped up security arrangements under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The defense chiefs of the Philippines and the United States recently held a discussion on efforts to reestablish deterrence in the South China Sea,

Earlier, Chinese naval vessels attracted Manila’s ire as they crossed Basilan Strait on the way to distant-sea training exercise.

The Philippines and United States air forces conducted joint patrols over the South China Sea, specifically in the West Philippine Sea. This one-day exercise involved the participation of Philippine FA-50 fighter jets and U.

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.

It followed Tuesday’s PLA air patrol over the contested Scarborough Shoal – known as Huangyan Island in China. The Chinese military activities came after the Philippines and the United States held a joint patrol over the South China Sea on Tuesday,