PH, US strengthen defense alliance

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reaffirmed the robust alliance between the two countries, pledging to further enhance their defense cooperation amid an "imminent threat" from China.

- MARTIN SADONGDONG

The two defense ministers held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday, May 30, where they underscored their shared commitment to promoting regional peace, resilience, and a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We just came off the heels of a very successful US-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting, where Secretary Hegseth made a great impact-I could feel it among our counterparts here," Teodoro stated. "It is proof of the Trump administration's strong commitment to engage the ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific. We will continue to enhance both our bilateral and multilateral relationships, guided by our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Philippines seeks peace

Teodoro emphasized the country's dedication to long-term peace amid China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The Philippines does seek peace, but in this instance, it is important to have a sustainable peace that is based on our own resilience and alliances with like-minded partners," he noted.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including features within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Last May 21, a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship sideswiped and fired a water cannon at a civilian vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) near Sandy Cay or Pag-asa Cay 2 in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).