US and Philippines vow to boost security ties to address 'flashpoints'

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Theresa Lazaro (left) and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink shake hands after a press conference during 10th US-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Manila on January 20, 2023. - AFP

MANILA, Jan 21, 2023 (AFP): The United States and the Philippines have vowed to "invigorate" defence cooperation to address shared security concerns including disputes over the South China Sea.

Manila hosted a high-level security dialogue with its top defence ally on Friday (Jan 20) as part of efforts by President Ferdinand Marcos to restore a seven-decade partnership that was unsettled by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.