US promises Philippine president to ramp up deterrence on China
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth shakes hands with President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on July 21.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON - Top US officials promised President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines on July 21 that Washington will defend its long-time ally and ramp up military resources aimed at deterring an assertive China.
Mr Marcos will meet on July 22 with President Donald Trump, who has rattled many European allies by demanding they pay more to be protected as part of Nato.
Both Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have both identified China as a top threat, stated their commitment to the seven-decade treaty with the Philippines as they held separate meetings with Mr Marcos on July 21.
“Together we remain committed to the Mutual Defence Treaty. And this pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea,” Mr Hegseth told Mr Marcos.
Noting growing US defence spending, Mr Hegseth said that the two countries “must forge a strong shield of real deterrence for peace, ensuring the long-term security and prosperity for our nations”.
“We do not seek confrontation, but we are and will be ready and resolute,” Mr Hegseth said.
Mr Marcos welcomed US support, noting the “changing political geopolitical forces and the political developments around our part of the world”.
China and the Philippines have engaged in a series of confrontations in the contested waters, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis.
Since his election in 2022, Mr Marcos has boosted cooperation between the former US colony and the United States, both under Mr Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden. AFP
