Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the latter’s home country on Friday to discuss strategic enhancements to geopolitical security against China’s aggression and to protect universal navigation rights in the South China Sea for all countries.
Hegseth called for the countries to stand “shoulder to shoulder” in collaborative efforts against the Chinese, according to reports. He called to present a united front against Chinese threats and stressed the importance of deterrence.
“Peace through strength is a very real thing,” Hegseth emphasized.
Tensions between the Philippines and China have increased in recent years, specifically over passage through the South China Sea. China claims authority over the body of water and has used its navy to enforce control in the area,
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