PH, US strengthen defense ties at Singapore summit amid 'imminent threat' from China

Manila Bulletin

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. (Video courtesy of Department of National Defense via Martin Sadongdong | MB)   READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/31/ph-us-strengthen-defense-ties-at-singapore-summit-amid-imminent-threat-from-china   Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin   Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin  Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com @manilabulletin-   #ManilaBulletinOnline  #ManilaBulletin  #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00I very much appreciate your hospitality there.

00:04Our military has exercised together in Balakatan in April.

00:07The largest one in a long time, 14,000 troops, and of course,

00:10just a long-standing relationship between the United States and the Philippines.

00:14Mutual defense treaty, ironclad partnership.

00:18And I want to applaud them for their courage and their clarity in the South China Sea

00:23in recognition of the challenges that we face, shoulder to shoulder.

00:27We want peace and stability in that region, and our partnership is central to that.

00:32So thank you for your time, always, and look forward to speaking today.

00:35Yes, thank you, Secretary Hegseth.

00:37And we just came at the heels of a very successful, I must say,

00:42U.S.-ASEAN defense ministers meeting.

00:46Secretary Hegseth made a great impact.

00:49I could feel it with our counterparts here,

00:52and it is the proof of the commitment of the Trump administration,

00:56to engage in the ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific.

01:01Of course, we will continue to enhance our bilateral and multilateral relationships,

01:07all with the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,

01:13and of course, our shared interests in upholding a rules-based international order.

01:20The Philippines does seek peace, but in this instance it is important to have a sustainable peace

01:31that is based on our own resilience and alliances with like-minded partners.

01:38Thank you very much, Secretary Hegseth.

01:40We look forward to meeting in here pretty soon,

01:45and we look forward to enhancing our already robust defense relationship.

01:50That's right. Thank you.

01:52Mr. Secretary, sorry if you had a response to China's minister's absence.

01:55Thank you, Press. Let's go. Thank you, Press.

01:57We can't account for whether China engages or not.

02:01All we know is that we're here and we will be here,

02:05and we seek to further and establish peace through partnership with allies and partners in the region,

02:11but it also requires power and strength, which uniquely America can bring in pursuit of deterrence of conflict.

02:20We don't seek conflict with anybody, and that's important to emphasize.

02:25We're here to engage military-to-military, country-to-country.

02:29We can't account for whether or not China's here or not, but we're glad we are,

02:34and we think it makes the region more stable and more peaceful.

02:37I'm glad you could ask us that question, but it's hard for their citizens to ask their government why they're not here.

02:44And that's the value which we both stand here for, the ability to ask questions,

02:50to lead a free life, to have freedom of the press, and other freedoms that we enjoy.

02:54No doubt. No doubt. Thank you.

02:56All right. Thank you.

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