Trump’s defence chief says US, Manila must stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ to deter China threat

During a visit to the Philippines, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed alliance, deterring Beijing’s ‘aggression’ in the South China Sea

Reading Time:4 minutes

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (left) with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Manila on Friday. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:34am, 28 Mar 2025Updated: 12:22am, 29 Mar 2025

Washington has announced the deployment of several new missiles and unmanned surface vehicles bound for the Philippines during a visit by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Manila aimed at deterring China’s “aggression in the region” – a step analysts described as a game changer, but one that could escalate tensions with Beijing.

Hegseth and his counterpart, Philippine Defence Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jnr, on Friday announced the deployment of the NMesis (Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) anti-ship missiles, as well as unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), for next month’s Balikatan drills between US and Philippine forces.

“These systems will enable US forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to train together on using advanced capabilities to defend the Philippines’ sovereignty,” Hegseth said, adding later that it demonstrated “our ironclad alliance” against communist China’s aggression in the region.

Teodoro welcomed the deployment that “will hasten the introduction of these technologies into the vista of the Philippine Armed Forces and will train our troops to train for higher technological capabilities that we need for effective deterrence in the future.” He also emphasised their shared common threat, “which now is the overreach of the Communist Party of China”.

During his visit, Hegseth also met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, stressing that the two countries must stand “shoulder to shoulder” against the threat from China.

Hegseth also underscored the need for those seeking peace to “prepare for war” in response to the aggression of so-called communist China in the South China Sea. The US defence chief raised the necessity of a “warriors’ peace” several times.