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| US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived last night in Manila as part of his three-country swing in Southeast Asia, which also included Singapore and Vietnam. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images via AFP) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA— The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the West Philippine Sea issue are expected to highlight the discussions when visiting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meets with his Philippine counterpart and other officials today, PhilStar reported. Austin arrived last night in Manila as part of his three-country swing in Southeast Asia, which also included Singapore and Vietnam.
The US defense chief paid a courtesy call on President Duterte last night. He is also expected to meet today with Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. before his departure.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is expected to update Austin on the Philippine position on the VFA, some provisions of which are being reviewed by Malacañang. The two officials are also expected to tackle the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US as well as developments in the West Philippine Sea, particularly China’s provocations in the region. The Philippines’ overall security relations with the US are also expected to be on the agenda.
Lorenzana earlier said that the Philippine government is already working on an addendum to the VFA and is considering a review of the decades-old MDT. The defense chief said that he is confident that an improved VFA – with some changes and addendum – would be approved before President Duterte steps down at the end of his term next year.
