29 Marso, 2025 Sabado
Success Month March in iskup
advance Happy Birthday Jo God-Saves Lopez
Welcome to Philippines Tomas and Aida Capica
election campaign period, gun ban in effect
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
Supports Fire Prevention Month March
supports Women Month March
congratulations Marked Men for Christ Philippines 565th batch Seminar, January 30, 31, February 1, 2025, Kabaleyan Cove, San Carlos City, Pangasinan, looking forward to next batch July 16,2025, Baguio City
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Family of the late Ilocos Sur Gov. Efren Rafanan Sr. appreciates everyone joined them in their bereavement
PM for any hospital discharge problem
‘US will join allies to stop China aggression’
By J.Lo
“We will work with our allies and our partners to deter Communist Chinese and their aggression in Indo-Pacific, full stop,” United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
told Pentagon think tank Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii he was expected to affirm his nation’s security commitment to the Philippines and other US allies as he arrives today for his first official visit to the country to meet with his counterpart Gilbert Teodoro Jr.
Earlier this week, Hegseth voiced Trump administration’s resolve to maintain peace and protect its interest as well as of its allies in Indo-Pacific against China’s belligerence.
“By standing shoulder to shoulder with you, our allies and partners, we will put our enemies, our adversaries, those who stand against us on notice…each ally, each partner, each friend, contributes their own unique capabilities to regional deterrence,” he said.
During his two-day visit, Hegseth will meet with Teodoro at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Hegseth said his engagements with allies were meant to strengthen partnerships toward shared vision for free and open Indo-Pacific.
On March 25, he met in Hawaii with civilian and military leaders from US Indo-Pacific Command.
In prior call with Teodoro, Hegseth emphasized importance of “reestablishing deterrence in South China Sea.”
“No one should question resolve of United States of America to defend our interests in Indo-Pacific and beyond, we will do this through deterrent power of strongest, most effective, most lethal fighting force in the world … supported by and in partnership with capable, like-minded allies and partners,” he said.
Malacañang, meanwhile, lashed back at China for implying that Philippines is “chess piece” and “mouthpiece” of another country ahead of visit of Hegseth.
“If China really believes and is concerned about peace and stability in the region, they should abide by international law, they should also respect sovereignty of each country… Philippines is no one’s chess piece, we are independent country,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at press conference.
“Whatever we do, whatever project related to our military operations is up to us, no one should interfere…we are independent and no one should meddle in whatever decision our government will make,” Castro said.
She maintained that no country should meddle in Philippines’ policies and called on China to respect sovereignty of other countries.
At briefing earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Philippines should “stop serving as other countries’ mouthpiece,” when asked to react to Hegseth’s Manila visit.
He said any defense cooperation between Philippines and other countries should not target any third party, harm its interest, threaten regional peace or escalate tensions. Guo added that facts “have repeatedly proven that nothing good could come out of opening the door to predator” and that “those who willingly serve as chess pieces will be deserted in the end.”
China is claiming almost entire South China Sea including areas within Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
In 2016, arbitral court based in The Hague invalidated China’s maritime claims and affirmed Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone. Chinese government refused to recognize ruling.
US has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to its treaty obligations to the Philippines, saying it stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” in defending its ally’s sovereign rights in South China Sea. Washington officials have also declared armed attack on Filipino armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including in South China Sea, would invoke United States’ mutual defense commitments.
Philippines, meanwhile, is also looking at boosting further country’s defense relations with Cambodia.
Teodoro made pronouncement during courtesy call by Cambodia’s secretary of state of the ministry of national defense Lt. Gen. Rath Dararoth, according to DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong.
During his meeting with Dararoth, Teodoro expressed optimism on strengthening defense ties between Philippines and Cambodia and underscored importance of regional cooperation in addressing security challenges and in fostering mutual growth. He also relayed to Dararoth his invitation to Cambodia’s defense minister Tea Seiha to visit Philippines this year.
Andolong said Dararoth lauded successful and seamless conduct of fourth Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting held earlier.
Emphasizing value of cooperation among members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Teodoro told Dararoth of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to explore critical areas of collaboration designed to benefit Southeast Asian countries.
He said despite different approaches to addressing common security threats, ASEAN solidarity remains unwavering.
Andolong said Dararoth echoed same sentiment, emphasizing potential for deeper bilateral cooperation between two countries as he extended his appreciation for Philippines’ continued support for Cambodia, particularly in education and training programs.
ISKUP! 