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AMERICA, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, ASIA, ASSOCIATED PRESS, BEIJING, BIDEN, BRP SIERRA MADRE, BRUNEI, CHINA, DEFENSE, GILBERT, HEGSETH, INDO - PACIFIC, JOHN ULLYOT, JOSE MANUEL ROMUALDEZ, MALAYSIA, MANILA, MEXICO, NORTH AMERICA, PACIFIC, PENTAGON, PHILIPPINE, PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH CHINA SEA, SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE, TAIWAN, TERRITORIAL DISPUTE, TERRITORIAL DISPUTES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, U. S, UNITED STATES, VIETNAM, WASHINGTON
Dante Raeburn
U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth to Address South China Sea Issues in Philippines
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s upcoming visit to the Philippines on March 28-29 will address concerns regarding the South China Sea. He will meet with Philippine leaders to discuss enhancing deterrence and security cooperation amid increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region. The visit emphasizes the U.S.’s commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty to support Philippine security forces.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to visit the Philippines on March 28-29, marking the initial destination of his inaugural trip to the Indo-Pacific. His discussions will focus on enhancing deterrence against aggression in the contentious South China Sea, as confirmed by a Philippine official.
During his visit, Secretary Hegseth will engage in talks with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The agenda will address the increasingly assertive maneuvers by Beijing in the South China Sea, alongside discussions on “more significant support” to Philippine security forces under the Trump administration, according to Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez.
Ambassador Romualdez emphasized that Hegseth’s upcoming visit sends a robust message to China, highlighting the strong bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Philippines. The South China Sea is crucial for global trade and security, claimed almost entirely by China, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also assert overlapping claims in the region.
In a previous conversation with Secretary Teodoro, Hegseth reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which is essential for ensuring a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Discussions included strengthening deterrence in the South China Sea and bolstering the capacity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Past confrontations between Chinese and Philippine forces have intensified, prompting warnings from the Biden administration about U.S. obligations under the treaty in the event of attacks on Philippine assets in the Pacific. Conversely, Beijing has cautioned Washington to refrain from interfering in what it regards as an Asian matter, urging a halt to actions that could disrupt regional stability.
In conclusion, Secretary Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines underscores a commitment to strengthening U.S.-Philippines relations amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. Through discussions aimed at enhancing regional security and reaffirming defense obligations, the U.S. expresses its role in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific. The evolving dynamics of this territorial dispute necessitate deliberate engagement among regional stakeholders to foster peace and cooperation.
Original Source: www.local10.com
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