U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized on Tuesday that the alliance between the United States and the Philippines will endure beyond changes in government leadership, reaffirming his commitment to the Southeast Asian nation.

During a press conference at the Philippine military’s Western Command in Palawan, adjacent to the South China Sea, Austin stated that the Philippines will continue to be a significant partner for the United States for many years to come.

Both Austin and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, voiced their concerns regarding China’s actions in the South China Sea. Austin reiterated Washington’s defense obligations to the Philippines as outlined in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

He clarified that the treaty encompasses armed attacks in the South China Sea, where he noted that China has employed dangerous and provocative tactics to assert its extensive territorial claims.

In recent years, the Philippines and China have faced ongoing disputes over contested areas within Manila’s exclusive economic zone, raising regional fears of potential miscalculations and escalations at sea.

China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entirety of the South China Sea, a vital route for over $3 trillion in annual maritime trade, leading to tensions with its Southeast Asian neighbors.