The phone call was made following actions by China that the US called dangerous and irresponsible forpreventing the Philippines from carrying out a lawful maritime operation in the East Sea on June 17.

Blinken said China's actions undermine regional peace and stability and underscored the US’s ironclad commitment to the Philippines under their Mutual Defense Treaty.

Blinken and Manalo also discussed ways to build momentum from recent high-level bilateral agreements on a range of issues.

The US State Department earlier issued a statement saying that China’s use of water cannons, collisions, and blockades of Philippine ships, dangerously and intentionally endangering the lives of Philippine soldiers, is reckless and threatens peace and stability in the region.