With the fresh extension, the VFA termination will take effect 69 days after June 1, 2021, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Following the suspension, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the decision of Duterte on the termination of the VFA was due to the COVID-19 crisis. In July, more than a month after the US received the notification from the Philippine government, Pompeo declared Washington's new policy on South China Sea. Pompeo said the US would consider Beijing's claims to offshore resources in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, as "completely unlawful." "The world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire," Pompeo said.

Source: Philippine Star November 11, 2020 07:20 UTC