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Philippines steps up front-line role in Indo-Pacific with new US-linked task force
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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (right) meeting with Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr to establish Task Force Philippines.
PHOTO: PETE HEGSETH/X
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- Task Force Philippines is a new joint coordination mechanism between the Philippines and US military, integrating operations from the South China Sea to areas near Taiwan.
- The task force aims to synchronise joint planning, intelligence sharing, and crisis response, complementing the Philippines' defence strategy.
- Despite aiming to "lower tensions," analysts note China may view the task force as provocative, though it also raises the bar for escalation.
AI generated
MANILA – The creation of Task Force Philippines marks a new chapter in the Manila-Washington alliance, linking in a unified framework military operations from coastal provinces facing the South China Sea to the northern islands near Taiwan.
Announced at the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 31, the initiative establishes a joint coordination mechanism
