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4w ago

U.S. Defense Secretary Visits Philippines as Tensions with China Escalate

Pete Hegseth's trip highlights deepening defense ties and potential treaty invocation while facing scrutiny over leaked military plans.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe, Pool)
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, center, along with Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, salutes troops upon arriving at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Philippines, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks on, as President Donald Trump (not pictured) delivers remarks, in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 21, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, third left, at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe, Pool)

Overview

  • U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in the Philippines to strengthen military cooperation amid rising Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
  • The visit coincides with ongoing joint military exercises and discussions about invoking the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to deter future aggression.
  • China continues to escalate confrontations in the disputed waters, including harassment of Philippine vessels, despite international rulings rejecting its territorial claims.
  • Hegseth's visit is overshadowed by domestic controversy over leaked details of military strikes in Yemen, raising questions about his leadership.
  • The Philippines' strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific, especially near Taiwan, underscores the urgency of bolstering its defense capabilities with U.S. support.