US Reaffirms Treaty Commitment to Defend Philippine Security in South China Sea

(Manila/Washington, 23rd) US Defense Secretary Hegses and Secretary of State Rubio reiterated that Washington will steadfastly fulfill its mutual defense treaty with its longstanding ally, the Philippines, and defend the Philippines’ security in the Pacific region, including the South China Sea.
The visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in the United States and, on Tuesday (July 22), held his first meeting with President Trump, seeking to strengthen bilateral defense and economic cooperation.
Before meeting with Trump, Marcos Jr. met separately with Hegses and Rubio on Monday (21st), both of whom expressed America's commitment to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
Hegses said, “This treaty covers anywhere in the Pacific, including armed attacks against our armed forces, aircraft, public vessels, and Coast Guard in the South China Sea.”
According to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty signed in 1951, both countries will take joint military action in response if either is subjected to armed attack in Pacific waters.
Hegses stated, “We do not seek confrontation, but we are prepared and unwavering in this resolve.”
He emphasized that the two countries must “forge a strong deterrent barrier to maintain peace and ensure the long-term security and prosperity of our nations.”
Since Marcos Jr. took office in 2022, the Philippines and the Chinese Coast Guard have clashed multiple times over disputed sovereignty in the South China Sea. As tensions rise in the region, the Philippines has continuously strengthened its defense cooperation with the US.
Hegses said that since the start of this year, significant progress has been made in US-Philippine military cooperation, including expanded joint exercises around the South China Sea. In addition, the US is “deploying the most advanced missile and drone systems, and revitalizing the two countries’ defense industrial base.”
The US previously pledged to support Philippine infrastructure development and to introduce US$1 billion (approximately RM4.234 billion) in investment.
Marcos Jr. welcomed the US's support. He said: “We must continue to advance our bilateral relationship...because changes in the geopolitical landscape are affecting the entire region.”
During his meeting with Marcos Jr., Rubio also emphasized the “unbreakable US-Philippines alliance,” reaffirmed the shared commitment to deterrence strategy, and to maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific region.
The two also discussed efforts to promote US-Philippines economic prosperity, including strengthening supply chains through the Luzon Economic Corridor.
Marcos Jr. is the first Southeast Asian leader to meet with Trump. Before departing Manila, he told reporters that in addition to defense cooperation, the Philippines also hopes to negotiate with the US to reduce high tariffs, aiming to reach a favorable trade agreement before the August 1st deadline.
This month, Trump threatened to impose a 20% reciprocal tariff on Philippine imports, up from the 17% announced in April.
The Philippines is also currently facing another thorny issue: a wave of Filipino worker repatriations triggered by Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
However, Philippine Ambassador to the US Romualdez said Monday that there appears to be no room for negotiation on this topic; the Philippines can only do its best to ensure repatriated Filipino citizens can return home, rather than being sent to a third country. The US and the Philippines have reached a consensus on this.
He estimates that nearly 100,000 Filipinos may face repatriation, most of whom are concentrated in California.
After Trump’s return to the White House, the crackdown on illegal immigration has intensified, expanding from undocumented immigrants with criminal records to those without, with some legal immigrants also affected. In some cases, if the country of origin refuses to accept them back, the US government will send immigrants to a third country.