US defense commitment to Philippines 'ironclad' — Biden

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden said Wednesday after collisions between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea that the US defense commitment to the Philippines is "ironclad."

"Any attack on Filipino aircraft, vessels or armed forces will invoke our mutual defense treaty with the Philippines," Biden told reporters.

"I want to be very clear," he said. "The United States defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad." — Agence France-Presse