US-Philippines alliance is ‘ironclad’- Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has assured the Philippines, a key Washington ally, of US support amid heightened tensions with China.

He reiterated America's «ironclad» security commitments to the Philippines during a visit to Manila on Tuesday.

Friction has grown between Manila and Beijing in recent months over competing claims in the South China Sea.

«These waterways are critical to the Philippines, to its security, to its economy,» Mr Blinken said.

«They're also critical to the interests of the region, the United States and the world,» he added, speaking at a joint press conference with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

«That's why we stand with the Philippines and stand by our ironclad defence commitments, including under the mutual defence treaty.»

Mr Blinken will also discuss trade with Filipino officials, a senior State Department official has said.

The visit is also likely to be seen as bolstering American support for Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr who has tilted towards Washington, unlike his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who pushed ties with Beijing.

The White House also announced on Tuesday that President Joe Biden will host a summit with Mr Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in April.

As Mr Blinken's plane descended towards the capital, Manila, the lights of the city's flourishing high-rise blocks were reflected across the bay. The Philippines became Southeast Asia's fastest growing economy last year, but entrenched inequality in a country which has failed to grapple with long-standing accusations of government cronyism has played into its fractious politics.

The Philippines remains a key strategic hub for the US, especially because of its position in an evolving region, where China has emerged as a rival to American power and influence.

The waters of Manila Bay spread out into the South China Sea, in which the Philippines is one of several Asian nations caught in disputes with Beijing over territory, trade routes and maritime zones.

While the disputes are not new, tense encounters between the Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard have increased in recent months, raising fears of a conflict. Collisions between the two