According to reports, when the Philippine President Marcos was visiting the U.S., the two sides announced the launch of military cooperation, and reiterated that the Mutual Defense Treaty is extended to the South China Sea. Marcos said that the promotion of modernizing the Philippine military is a direct response to the changing situation in the South China Sea, and that the U.S. deploying mid-range missiles and the two countries jointly building arsenal bases are conducive to preparations for possible future situations. Other sources say that Japan has exported six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippines. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a regular press conference on July 29th that China has always opposed attempts to increase military alliances and engage in military deployment and operations targeting others under the pretext of the South China Sea issue.