US, Manila tout importance of security in Strait‘COLLECTIVE DEFENSE’: The US pledged to help modernize the Philippine armed forces, and increase deployments of cutting-edge missiles and uncrewed systems to the PhilippinesStaff writer, with CNAThe US and the Philippines on Monday reaffirmed the importance of regional security in the Taiwan Strait following the 12th Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Manila. Washington and Manila in a joint statement released by the US Department of State emphasized collective defense in deterring aggression anywhere along the first island chain, of which Taiwan is a part. The two countries “condemned China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities in the South China Sea,” and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The US in 2024 installed in the northern Philippines a US mid-range missile system called Typhon and an anti-ship missile launcher last year. The US missile deployments to the Philippines did not aim to antagonize any country, he said.

Source: Taipei Times February 17, 2026 18:45 UTC