Additional Coverage:
- Hegseth says US to boost ties with Philippines as deterrence against China: ‘Peace through strength’ (foxnews.com)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday to reaffirm the Trump administration’s commitment to bolstering military ties with the Philippines. The visit, part of Hegseth’s Asia trip, underscores the U.S.’s focus on deterring Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea.
Hegseth emphasized the importance of a united front against what he termed threats from “communist China,” highlighting the need for free navigation in the contested waters, which are referred to as the West Philippine Sea by the Philippines. He praised Marcos for the Philippines’ firm stance in defending its maritime interests.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a critical global trade route. Several other nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, also have overlapping claims in the resource-rich area, leading to increased tensions and confrontations, particularly between Chinese and Philippine forces, in recent years.
The visit comes ahead of large-scale annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and the Philippines scheduled for next month. These exercises will include live-fire drills.
Marcos welcomed Hegseth’s visit as a strong symbol of the two nations’ commitment to maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region. He affirmed the Philippines’ long-held view that the U.S. represents the most significant force for peace in the area.
Hegseth’s trip follows recent controversy surrounding his sharing of information via a Signal group chat that included U.S. security officials and a media figure. The Secretary has faced calls for his resignation over the matter.