The United States would support the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral win in a sea dispute with China, as it vowed to aid the Southeast Asian nation in case of an attack on its vessels in the South China Sea. “You have our word and our commitment,” US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink said during a bilateral strategic dialogue with Philippine officials in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 17, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The dialogue was the culmination of recent high-level exchange of visits, including that of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to the Philippines in July.

Aquino, N. P., & Tan, A. N. O. (2021, November 18). US vows to defend Philippines in case of attack. BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.