<span style='font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";'>US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the UnitedStates is committed to ensuring the South China Sea remains open to all kindsof navigation. </span>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style='font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";'>During his visit to Manila today, Mr Pompeo assured thePhilippines that America will come to its defense if its forces, aircraft orships come under armed attack in the South China Sea. </span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style='font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";'>Speaking at a news conference in Manila, he further said, USwill also ensure that China does not pose a threat of closing the disputed sealanes.</span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style='font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";'>Mr Pompeo's comments are being seen as an attempt to addresslocal concerns over the vagueness of the allies 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty,which the Philippines wants re-examined.</span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style='font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";'>Chinese officials have refuted such US assertions in thepast, saying Beijing will never threaten freedom of navigation in the busywaterway. </span></p>