US Backs Philippines in South China Sea Arbitration Review Against Beijing Claims
⢠US State Department on April 5, 2026, reaffirmed support for the Philippines' call to review 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, rejecting China's 'nine-dash line' territorial assertions. ⢠Secretary Blinken issued a joint statement with Manila, committing $100 million in naval aid; Filipino President Marcos said, 'US alliance is ironclad.' ⢠Development escalates US-China rivalry in Indo-Pacific, vital for $3 trillion annual trade routes and US freedom of navigation operations.
washingtonpost.com

