TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US and the Philippines condemned China’s coercive actions in the South China Sea and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait in a joint statement following the Philippines-US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue on Monday.

The dialogue, held in Manila with senior officials from both countries, focused on strengthening alliances to reinforce deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, UDN reported. The statement stressed that collective defense is essential to deterring aggression along the First Island Chain, a strategic line of islands stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines.

Washington and Manila denounced what they described as China’s “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities” in the South China Sea, noting that such actions threaten regional peace and economic stability.

The two countries pledged vigilance in the region to uphold freedom of navigation and prevent unilateral control or conflict. The statement also condemned any threats to territorial integrity or political independence, committing to a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

The Taiwan Strait, a crucial international waterway, allows foreign ships to pass through and foreign aircraft to fly over without restriction. China emphasizes its claims over Taiwan, territorial waters, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves, according to the Mainland Affairs Council.

A MAC report said Beijing’s attempts to regulate foreign naval activity in the area create the misleading impression that China has exclusive control over these waters.

First held in 2011, the US-Philippines dialogue serves as a platform for discussing political, security, and economic cooperation. The two sides also exchange views on current regional challenges, strategic priorities, and emerging areas for collaboration.