U.S., Philippines to finalize intel-sharing pact to counter China

JAKARTA -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday renewed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to defend the Philippines after China escalated tensions in the South China Sea by firing a water cannon at a Philippine resupply vessel.

Austin met with Gilbert Teodoro, the Philippine minister of national defense, in Jakarta on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, the first in-person engagement since Teodoro took office in June.