Fri Mar 28 05:09:15 UTC 2025: ## US and Philippines Vow to Stand Together Against China Amidst South China Sea Tensions
**Manila, Philippines** – Amidst controversy surrounding the leak of US strike plans in Yemen, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived in Manila Friday to reaffirm the strong US-Philippines alliance and jointly counter China’s growing influence in the region. Hegseth met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., emphasizing the need for a united front against what he termed “communist Chinese” threats.
Hegseth stressed the importance of “peace through strength” and “deterrence,” particularly in the South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea. He underscored the US’s recognition of the Philippines’ right to defend its territorial claims against Beijing’s expansive assertions in the disputed waterway. President Marcos described Hegseth’s visit as sending a “very strong message” of commitment to the alliance.
The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and the Philippines, following a series of confrontations between Chinese vessels and the Philippine coast guard near the Scarborough Shoal. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro recently denounced China’s claim to over 90% of the South China Sea as “the biggest fiction and lie.”
Hegseth’s trip, the first leg of an Asia-Pacific tour, is part of the US administration’s broader strategy to rally regional allies against China’s growing power. He will next travel to Japan for meetings with Japanese officials. The timing of the trip also coincides with scrutiny of Hegseth’s role in the accidental leak of US military plans concerning Yemen.
First Piper 