The United States and the Philippines announced the creation of a task force that would allow the two countries to ''decisively respond to crisis or aggression or reestablish deterrence in the South China (Sea) during the sidelines of a meeting of Association of Southeast Nations defense chiefs.

No details were given by US Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth ahead of a bilateral meeting with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro in a brief announcement in Kuala Lumpur.

''We are publicly announcing the Task Force Philippines here with you today which will be another step in our cooperation, increasing interoperability and exercising and preparedness for contingencies so that we can decisively respond to crisis or aggression and reestablish deterrence in the South China Sea,'' said Hegseth in his introductory remarks.

Hegseth also announced the completed ''an alliance of readiness and action plan''. ''It will accelerate our major defense priorities,'' he added even as he thanked Teodoro for his effort.

The South China Sea, which Manila also refers to as West Philippine Sea, has been an area of concern.

In 2012, Chinese ships entered Scarborough Shoal with the Philippines unable to drive these out. A 2016 decision of the Arbitral Tribunal in The Netherlands said China has no historical claims over the South China Sea but China has disregarded the decision.