LEAD: Clinton vows more defence support for Philippines

Nov 16, 2011, 7:07 GMT

Manila - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday vowed to provide greater defence support for the Philippines amid growing tensions between Manila and Beijing.

Clinton and Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario signed a declaration calling for 'a rules-based approach in resolving competing claims in maritime areas' aboard the US Navy warship USS Fitzgerald in Manila Bay.

The event commemorating the 60th anniversary of a defence treaty between the Philippines and the United States. The document stressed the need to maintain 'freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful commerce, and transit of people across the seas.'

Clinton said Washington was prepared to bolster the alliance to 'provide greater support for external defence, particularly maritime domain awareness, defensive ones and maritime boundaries.'

'We are making sure that our collective defence capabilities and communications infrastructure are operationally and materially capable of deterring provocations from the full spectrum of state and non-state actors,' she said.

The Philippines has been calling for a united front in South-East Asia against China's alleged aggression in disputed territories in the South China Sea, a key shipping lane that is also believed to be rich in oil and mineral resources.

'The US will always be in the corner of the Philippines,' Clinton said after meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and other top officials.

The US recently provided the Philippines with a warship and was reportedly considering a second one, according to media reports quoting officials travelling with Clinton.

Not all Filipinos, however, welcome US support.

Hundreds of left-wing activists marched on the US embassy for the second day on Wednesday to demand an end to the defence treaty.

Police blocked the demonstrators, who threw pig's blood on a road leading to the embassy to express their solidarity with victims of US-supported wars around the world.

They also complained that the defence cooperation with the US has not been beneficial to the Philippines.

Read more about US