Pete Hegseth, persecuted by the scandal at home, commits the support of the United States in Manila against China | Philippines

The Secretary of Defense of the United States, Pete HegsethHe met President Filipino, Ferdinand Marcos, in Manila saying that the two countries have to endure the “shoulder on the shoulder” in front of the threat represented by China.

Hegseth’s meeting at the presidential palace arrives while opening a tour of Pacific allies that risks being obscured by a growing scandal Leaked plans for military strikes.

“Deterrence is necessary all over the world but in particular in this region, in your country, considering the threats of the Chinese communists,” he said.

Manila’s visit of Hegseth, followed by travel to Tokyo and the battlefield of the Second World War Iwo Jima, follows months of clashes between the Philippines and Chinese ships in the contested Southern Chinese Sea.

Beijing supports almost the entire crucial navigable road despite an international sentence that his statement has no merit.

“Friends must resist shoulder on the shoulder to discourage conflicts to make sure there is a free navigation, if you call it the Southern Chinese Sea Or the western Filipino sea, “said Hegseth.

“Peace through strength is a very real thing.”

The journey-Volto to support the links in the Asia-Pacific region between the growing tensions with Beijing-Arriva while Hegseth faces the calls to resign by democratic legislators and the push of a republican deputy for an independent relationship.

The chief of the United States defense revealed the details of the strikes on the Houthi rebels supported by Iran Yemen In a group of high administrative officials on the sign of the messaging platform, according to a The Senior journalist added to the chat by chance.

Hegseth will meet his Filipin counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, Friday.

In response to the growing influence of China, the United States have strengthened alliances with the countries in the Asia-Pacific Region, including the Philippines.

Manila and Washington have deepened their defense cooperation since Marcos came into office in 2022 and began to reject the large statements of the Chinese Sea of ​​the Southern Beijing.

In recent years, the best US officials have warned that an “armed attack” against the Philippines in the navigable street would have invoked the mutual defense treaty of the two countries. They have expanded the sharing of military intelligence and have increased the number of bases that US troops have access to the archipelago to nine.

Given the proximity of the Philippines to Taiwan and its surrounding waters, Manila’s cooperation would be crucial in case of conflict with China.

Hegseth’s visit overlaps with bilateral military exercises that will expand in April to include the marinas and air forces of the countries.

Despite the growing pressure on the loss of the signal, Donald Trump defended Hegseth. “Hegseth is doing an excellent job, he had nothing to do with this,” said the President of the United States when he was asked by the FP if the defense secretary should take his position into consideration.

He also repeated his insistence on the fact that no classified information was shared in the violation, adding that the National Security Councilor Mike Waltz “took responsibility” for the error.

Waltz added Goldberg to the group chat that included Hegseth, the vice -president, JD Vance, the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard and others.