'US will stand with allies to stop China aggression'

US defense chief in Phl to boost partnership

- PIA LEE-BRAGO and ALEXIS ROMERO

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to affirm his nation's security commitment to the Philippines and other US allies as he arrives today for his first official visit to the country to meet with his counterpart Gilbert Teodoro Jr.

Earlier this week, Hegseth voiced the Trump administration's resolve to maintain peace and protect its interest as well as of its allies in the Indo-Pacific against China's belligerence.

"We will work with our allies and our partners to deter the Communist Chinese and their aggression in the Indo-Pacific, full stop," Hegseth told the Pentagon think tank Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii on March 25.

"By standing shoulder to shoulder with you, our allies and partners, we will put our enemies, our adversaries, those who stand against us on notice. Each ally, each partner, each friend, contributes their own unique capabilities to regional deterrence," he said.

During his two-day visit, Hegseth will meet with Teodoro at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Hegseth said his engagements with allies were meant to strengthen partnerships toward a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In Hawaii, he met with civilian and military leaders from the US Indo-Pacific Command.

During a previous call with Teodoro, Hegseth emphasized the importance of “reestablishing deterrence in the South China Sea.”

“No one should question the resolve of the United States of America to defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” Hegseth said.