The defense chiefs of the US and the Philippines have "condemned" China's "gray-zone" operations—or activities short of being called as war—in the South China Sea as they said these acts interfere with the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk. In a readout provided by the US Department of Defense following a phone call between US Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin and his Filipino counterpart, Carlito Galvez, the two officials also called out Beijing for its activities that impede the rights of other claimant states "that seek to operate lawfully in the South China Sea consistent with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling." Austin and Galvez noted "with particular concern" the Chinese aggression in the waters when it deployed earlier this month more than 40 vessels, including a People's Liberation Army Navy ship, to the waters off the Philippine-administered Pag-asa (Thitu) Island. "The swarming of vessels falls on the heels of a dangerous incident last month, in which the PRC (People's Republic of China) Coast Guard directed a military-grade laser against a Philippine vessel operating lawfully around Second Thomas Shoal, temporarily blinding some of the crew," the readout added. Austin then reiterated Washington's commitment to the Philippines as its ally. In case of any armed attack, he assured Galvez, the US would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty. Austin said the pact would cover the Philippine armed forces, the Philippine aircraft and public vessels, including those of the Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the two officials welcomed the upcoming joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines—called Balikatan—as it will be the largest iteration since. More than 17,000 troops will participate. After welcoming the recent groundbreaking ceremony for a $24 million airstrip project in Pampanga that is part of the US-Philippine military cooperation, Austin and Galvez also talked about extending the partnership of the two countries through activities in the South China Sea. Hence, they agreed to review the full range of US-Philippine maritime cooperation during the upcoming 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the readout stated.