Kuala lumpur: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday defended the creation of a new Philippines-United States task force for the South China Sea, emphasizing that the initiative is designed to enhance coordination and reduce tensions amid maritime disputes with China. Speaking to the Philippine media during his participation in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, Marcos stated that the task force aims to improve operational coordination between the two allies and uphold freedom of navigation in the contested waters.
According to Philippines News Agency, the task force, jointly announced by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, aims to ‘reestablish deterrence’ in the South China Sea and strengthen military interoperability between the two treaty allies. Marcos explained that the task force would allow both militaries to establish standard procedures for joint operations and training, stating, “It’s basically organizing ourselves into a more cohesive unit in terms of the protection of the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for us.”
Marcos further detailed that the militaries need to establish procedures to operate together effectively and maximize the time spent on joint exercises. He addressed concerns about potential provocation of Beijing, clarifying that the new task force is not an escalation but rather a continuation of existing defense cooperation. “It will not heighten tensions because it’s not something new. Wala namang bagong ginagawa. Nagkaka-heightening lang of tension kapag may sumubok ng bago,” he said.
Hegseth highlighted that the initiative underscores Washington’s commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, stressing that the pact applies to armed attacks on either country’s forces anywhere in the South China Sea. Marcos has consistently vowed to defend Philippine sovereignty while pursuing regional stability through alliances, particularly with the US, Japan, and Australia.
