Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday trump card administrative Intent to strengthen military relations with the Philippines to strengthen deterrence against the controversial South China Sea Chinese aggression.
Guaranteed was held at a meeting with Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines. Travel to Asia Reaffirm Washington’s “Terke” commitment to the region under President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Deterrence is necessary around the world, but in the region, in your country, consider the threat from the region, consider the threat from the region Communist ChineseHeggs told Marcos. “Friends all need to stand up to stop the conflict to ensure that no matter you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea, there is freedom to sail.”
“Peace through power is a very real thing,” Heggs said.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe)
China claims to be almost the entire South China Sea, a major security and global trade route. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also overlap with claims about resource-rich and busy waters, but there has been a surge in confrontation between China and the Philippines’ Coast Guard and Navy forces over the past two years.
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Chinese troops used powerful water cannons and dangerous exercises in the ocean to stop what Beijing said was Philippine ships encroaching on Chinese waters. Chinese military aircraft also approached Philippine patrol aircraft at a shocking distance, keeping them away from the Scarborough shoal, a controversial fishing atoll on the disputed waterway.
Heggs responded to this commitment by expressing Trump and his “Teck” of “a common defense treaty and partnership.”
Marcos told the U.S. Secretary of Defense that he first visited the Philippines in Asia, “a very strong message to the commitments of our two countries to continue working together to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region in the South China Sea.”
“We always understand the principle that the greatest peace force in the world will be the United States,” Marcos said.
The two Philippine Coast Guards were reportedly surrounded by Chinese ships in a tense standoff in the South China Sea on Monday and further exacerbated tensions between the two countries on March 24, 2025. (Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines came a month before the long-term treaty allies held their largest annual combat exercises, including live exercises.
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The Secretary of Defense visited because he faced his resignation to text the attack plan to a signal group, which included top U.S. security officials and editor-in-chief of Atlantic Magazine.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
