South China Sea: does new US-Philippine task force mark turning point in allies’ ties?
The task force aims to enhance interoperability and crisis responses of American and Filipino troops, particularly in the disputed sea
While the initiative formalises years of expanding defence ties, observers view it as a turning point in how Washington and Manila intend to manage maritime tensions – shifting from symbolic shows of alliance like episodic military exercises to integrated readiness across air, naval and cyber domains.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, unveiled the new task force on Friday at the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Kuala Lumpur.
According to a statement from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, the group – dubbed Task Force Philippines – “will increase operational cooperation, improve combined planning, and enhance interoperability, particularly in the South China Sea”.
“Our alliance has never been stronger. Our mutual defence treaty is the bedrock of that. We share concerns about China’s coercion in the South China Sea, particularly recently in Scarborough Shoal,” Hegseth said on Friday.
“We’re publicly announcing the Task Force Philippines, here with you today, which will be another step in our cooperation. Increasing interoperability, exercising and preparedness for contingencies so that we can decisively respond to crisis or aggression and reestablish deterrence in the South China Sea.”