US Defense Sec Austin meets Duterte in productive talks

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III met President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang Palace, describing the meeting as "productive" and "open and frank".

The meeting aimed to strengthen the US-Philippines alliance and discuss avenues to further enhance bilateral security cooperation, particularly in pandemic response, combatting transnational crimes, maritime domain awareness, the rule of law, and trade and investments.

Austin emphasized American support for the alliance, calling it a "lynchpin" of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Their discussions come as President Duterte has yet to approve a new Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, over a year after he officially sent a notice of termination.

Austin's visit also occurs amid China's expansion in the South China Sea, where the US has stated China's expansive claims lack a basis in international law.

Duterte took the opportunity to thank the US for its donation of 3.2 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's single-shot coronavirus vaccine, the Philippines' biggest bilateral donation yet.