United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to maintaining a strategic advantage over China and strengthening alliances in the Indo-Pacific.
In a call with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Hegseth emphasized reestablishing deterrence in the South China Sea under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
The US, Japan, and the Philippines pledged to deepen trilateral ties, particularly in economic and maritime cooperation, following the first US-Japan summit between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Meanwhile, the Philippine, US, and Canadian navies conducted joint exercises in the West Philippine Sea to bolster regional security amid rising Chinese presence.
The Philippine Coast Guard also reported the suspicious movement of Chinese vessels near Luzon, with one research ship allegedly violating maritime laws before disappearing from tracking systems.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 13, 2025
