US 'doubling down' on alliance with PH – Hegseth
THE United States is "doubling down" on its alliance with the Philippines, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday in Manila, in the face of what he called "Communist China's aggression in the region." Hegseth's trip, aimed at bolstering ties in the Asia-Pacific region as tensions rise with Beijing, comes in the shadow of a mounting scandal at home over leaked plans for a military strike. The defense chief secretary revealed details of strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in a group of top administration officials on the Signal messaging platform, according to a journalist added to the chat by accident. But US President Donald Trump has defended Hegseth, and in Manila, the defense chief focused on Washington's plan to "reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region," he told reporters alongside his Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. "Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country — considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said earlier, when he met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. "I had a chance to speak just a few minutes ago to our president, President Trump, who sends his regards to you as well, thinks very fondly of this great country, is very committed to the alliance that we have, to the friendship that we have, the cooperation that we have," Hegseth told Marcos. "And he and I both want to express the ironclad commitment we have to the Mutual Defense Treaty and to the partnership, economically, militarily, which our staffs have worked on diligently for weeks and weeks, and months," he added. Hegseth's Manila visit, to be followed by trips to Tokyo and World War II battleground Iwo Jima, follows months of confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea. Beijing claims almost the entirety of the crucial waterway, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no merit. "Friends need to stand shoulder to shoulder to deter conflict to ensure that there's free navigation, whether you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea," Hegseth said. "Peace through strength is a very real thing," he added. Manila and Washington have deepened their defense cooperation since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on Beijing's sweeping South China Sea claims. Hegseth said Friday the United States would deploy "additional advanced capabilities to the Philippines," including anti-ship missile systems and unmanned surface vehicles, for next month's joint Balikatan exercises. AFP, AP, CATHERINE S. VALENTE, FRANCISCO TUYAY AND RED MENDOZA
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE United States is "doubling down" on its alliance with the Philippines, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday in Manila, in the face of what he called "Communist China's aggression in the region."
Hegseth's trip, aimed at bolstering ties in the Asia-Pacific region as tensions rise with Beijing, comes in the shadow of a mounting scandal at home over leaked plans for a military strike.
The defense chief secretary revealed details of strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in a group of top administration officials on the Signal messaging platform, according to a journalist added to the chat by accident.
But US President Donald Trump has defended Hegseth, and in Manila, the defense chief focused on Washington's plan to "reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region," he told reporters alongside his Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
"Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country — considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said earlier, when he met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
"I had a chance to speak just a few minutes ago to our president, President Trump, who sends his regards to you as well, thinks very fondly of this great country, is very committed to the alliance that we have, to the friendship that we have, the cooperation that we have," Hegseth told Marcos.
"And he and I both want to express the ironclad commitment we have to the Mutual Defense Treaty and to the partnership, economically, militarily, which our staffs have worked on diligently for weeks and weeks, and months," he added.
Hegseth's Manila visit, to be followed by trips to Tokyo and World War II battleground Iwo Jima, follows months of confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea.
Beijing claims almost the entirety of the crucial waterway, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no merit.
"Friends need to stand shoulder to shoulder to deter conflict to ensure that there's free navigation, whether you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea," Hegseth said.
"Peace through strength is a very real thing," he added.
Manila and Washington have deepened their defense cooperation since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on Beijing's sweeping South China Sea claims.
Hegseth said Friday the United States would deploy "additional advanced capabilities to the Philippines," including anti-ship missile systems and unmanned surface vehicles, for next month's joint Balikatan exercises.
AFP, AP, CATHERINE S. VALENTE, FRANCISCO TUYAY AND RED MENDOZA
