US President Barack H. Obama affirmed Washington's commitment to the Philippines security and to freedom of navigation in Asia on Tuesday, squarely putting tension over Beijing's claims to the South China Sea onto the agenda ahead of a regional summit. Mr. Obama's comments in Manila Harbor after visiting the Philippines main warship came hours after China said it was the real victim of the waterway dispute because other countries had illegally occupied islands there. We have a treaty obligation, an iron-clad commitment to the defense of our ally the Philippines, Mr. Obama said after boarding the Philippines navy frigate that was a US Coast Guard cutter until 2011 but on Tuesday flew the flags of both two allies.

Obama puts maritime dispute on agenda as gathering begins. (2015, November 18). BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.