U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shakes hands with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, November 18, 2024. Gerard Carreon/Pool via REUTERS Gerard Carreon/Pool via REUTERS

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirms the enduring alliance with the Philippines despite administrative changes and emphasizes defense commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. Both nations express concerns over China's actions in the South China Sea,

BEIJING (AP) — China has published baselines for a contested shoal in the South China Sea it had seized from the Philippines, a move that’s likely to increase tensions over overlapping territorial claims.