By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency
The United States and the Philippines have unveiled the creation of a task force to deter aggression and “reestablish deterrence” in the South China Sea (SCS).
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the “Task Force Philippines” alongside Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday.
“It bears repeating that (the) Mutual Defense Treaty is critical for both of our countries; either of our forces anywhere in the South China Sea it is applicable,” Hegseth said.
“We don’t seek confrontation but, of course, we’re ready to protect our interests individually and mutually, and that’s why we’re publicly announcing the Task Force Philippines.”
The joint initiative, he said, will increase the two nations’ interoperability, exercises, and preparedness “to decisively respond to crisis or aggressions, and reestablish deterrence in the South China Sea.”
The two nations, Hegseth added, have completed an Alliance Readiness Action Plan, which will accelerate their key defense priorities in the next two years.
These include enhancing capabilities and adjusting the scope of existing defense and military activities bilaterally and multilaterally with like-minded partners.
In their bilateral meeting, Hegseth and Teodoro also discussed key regional security issues, including China’s coercive actions in the West Philippine Sea and the larger South China Sea.
Both officials emphasized the importance of continuous consensus-building efforts among regional partners.
“The US-Philippine alliance should not be seen in isolation, because the alliance, and moving forward now, are based on fundamentals—respect for international law, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Teodoro said.
He pointed out that given the strategic location of the Philippines, advancing these fundamentals not only benefits the country but also the broader push to secure economic supply chains and a stable region.
“It is not only important for both our countries that we interoperate deeper, we deter better, we add more allies, because freedom of navigation, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty are not only important for us, but for the whole world,” Teodoro said.
Also in Kuala Lumpur, Teodoro and Singapore Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing reaffirmed their nations’ enduring defense relations and exchanged views on regional and global security developments.
The two officials also discussed ongoing initiatives to further strengthen the Philippine-Singapore defense cooperation.
The two defense chiefs met earlier this year during the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and agreed to maintain regular exchanges and cooperate within the framework of the ASEAN defense cooperation.
