Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited Asia to reassure allies that the United States is committed to deterring Chinese “threats” and to defend his recent actions in disclosing American battle plans through a group chat. At a news conference in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Hegseth stated that the Trump administration will prioritize and shift to this region in an unprecedented way. The visit was part of a larger tour that will include Japan, which, along with the Philippines, has a mutual defense treaty with the United States. Both countries have been concerned about President Trump’s remarks questioning America’s long-standing alliances elsewhere. The Philippines and Japan have had tense standoffs with China regarding territorial claims. During a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Hegseth emphasized the need for deterrence against the Chinese threat. He also commented on a controversy around his role in sharing information about U.S. military strikes in Yemen on the messaging app Signal, defending it as not his responsibility. The U.S. plans to provide special operation forces training and deploy anti-ship missile systems and unmanned surface vehicles to the Philippines. The Philippines Defense Secretary, Gilberto Teodoro, reinforced that the activities are aimed at addressing the challenge posed by the Communist Party of China’s overreach.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/world/asia/hegseth-philippines-china.html