US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, met with Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos, in Manila to emphasize the need for the two countries to collaborate in light of China’s threat. Hegseth’s visit, which will also include stops in Tokyo and at the site of World War II’s Iwo Jima, follows several months of confrontations between Philippine and Chinese ships in the South China Sea, with China claiming a significant portion of the disputed region despite international rulings to the contrary.
Hegseth emphasized the importance of deterrence in the region, especially due to the threats from the Communist Chinese government. He stated that friends need to stand together to prevent conflict and ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea. Hegseth also stressed the concept of “Peace through strength” during his meeting at the presidential palace, which was also a key focal point of his tour and risked being overshadowed by a controversy involving leaked military strike plans.
The US is bolstering its ties with Asia-Pacific countries amid growing tensions with China, strengthening its alliances, and deepening its military cooperation with the Philippines since Marcos took office in 2022. The US and the Philippines have increased intelligence sharing and given US troops access to more bases. Manila’s support could be instrumental in case of a conflict with China, as the Philippines is geographically close to Taiwan.
The controversy concerning headline interceptions has led to calls for Hegseth’s resignation. He recently revealed details about strikes on Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels in a group chat on the messaging platform Signal, and legal authorities now seek an independent report. The information leak raised concerns about accountability within Donald Trump’s cabinet, as these top officials disseminated military plans.
Despite pressure from Democrats and a Republican lawmaker’s call for investigation, Trump defended Hegseth, stating that he did not participate in the leak. The group chat had mistakenly included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. The national security advisor had taken responsibility for the error but maintains the assurance that no classified information was disclosed.
