The United States will be looking to restore its security alliance with the Philippines, including a renewal of their military pact, as it seeks to build a stronger regional counterbalance against China, observers said. Washington has repeatedly pledged to build stronger defence ties with the Philippines since the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president. Secretary of State ­Antony Blinken reaffirmed the US-Philippine alliance late last month, including support for ­Manila against armed attacks in the South China Sea. Dr. Collin Koh, a Research Fellow with RSIS in Singapore, said there was likely to be a nagging concern that the Biden administration would pursue the issues of democracy, human rights and freedoms in the Philippines. “This is a potential friction point which, if not handled properly, may well set bilateral ties backwards,” he said.