US looking to bolster Philippines' ability to operate in its waters. The United States plans to enhance the Philippines' maritime capabilities, according to a senior White House official. This initiative precedes a meeting of defense and foreign ministers from both countries. US officials welcomed the recent Philippines-China agreement to ease South China Sea tensions but stressed the importance of implementation. US Secretaries Blinken and Austin will visit Manila to discuss security support, including the use of new military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.