The US defence secretary's visit to the Philippines came as Democrats called on him to resign over a national security scandal.
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The Trump administration will stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the Philippines to counter the threats posed by China, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said during a visit to Manila.
Hegseth, who is embroiled in a national security scandal back in the US, reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to the region during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Friday.
“Deterrence is necessary around the world but specifically in this region, in your country, considering the threats from the communist Chinese,” Hegseth told Marcos.
“Friends need to stand shoulder to shoulder to deter conflict, to ensure that there is free navigation whether you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea," he added.
The US defence secretary praised the Philippines for standing “very firm” to defend its interests in contested waters.
In recent months, the Philippines has accused China of "dangerous" military manoeuvres in the South China Sea, a crucial waterway that Beijing claims in almost its entirety.
Manila said in February that a Chinese helicopter flew within three metres of a Philippine patrol plane above the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
Under their mutual defence treaty, the US is obligated to help defend the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea.
"We have always understood the principle that the greatest force for peace in this part of the world would be the United States,” Marcos said during his meeting with Hegseth.
Since starting his presidency in June 2022, Marcos has aligned his country closely with the US, a shift from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who had deepened ties with China.
Ahead of Hegseth’s visit, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said China opposes “interference from outside countries” in the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun separately warned the Philippines in a news conference on Tuesday “that nothing good could come out of opening the door to a predator. Those who willingly serve as chess pieces will be deserted in the end".
Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines comes a month before the allies hold their largest annual combat exercises.
The US defence secretary is also travelling to Japan as part of his tour of the region.
Back in Washington, the Democrats have called for Hegseth to resign after it emerged that he had used the Signal messaging app to send war plans on Yemen to other senior Trump officials earlier this month.
His critics say that the messages — published in full on Wednesday by the journalist who was accidentally added to the group chat — could have endangered the lives of US military personnel as they prepared to launch strikes against the Houthi rebels.