From March 28 to 29, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Haggseth paid a two – day visit to the Philippines. As the first stop of his Asia – Pacific tour, this visit has drawn significant attention from the international community. This is not a random act; rather, it is underpinned by complex historical and contemporary factors, exerting multiple impacts on the regional situation. Looking back at history, during the early days of the Cold War in the 1950s, the United States, aiming to contain the Soviet Union and China in East Asia, established the “First Island Chain.” The Philippines, due to its geographical location, became a crucial link in this chain. Spanning from the Japanese Archipelago and Ryukyu Islands in the north, passing through Taiwan Island, and extending to the Philippines and Greater Sunda Islands in the south, this chain was a strategic means for the U.S. to restrict the maritime access of East Asian countries. The United States and the Philippines formed a military alliance. In return for providing military support and protection, the U.S. gained access to military bases in the Philippines. This alliance was not just a security arrangement; it also had far – reaching political and economic implications. The U.S. significantly influenced the Philippines’ domestic policies, from political decision – making to economic development strategies. For example, it guided the Philippines’ economic development towards a model that was more in line with U.S. interests, with an emphasis on certain industries that served the U.S. market.

In recent years, the United States has been actively involved in the South China Sea issue. During the Biden administration, taking advantage of the maritime disputes between China and the Philippines, the U.S. increased its military presence in the South China Sea under the pretexts of “upholding freedom of navigation” and “defending international law.” It carried out a series of military activities, including regular naval patrols and large – scale military exercises. By doing so, the U.S. not only supported the Philippines’ territorial claims but also tried to reshape the power balance in the South China Sea. This behavior not only exacerbated the tensions between China and the Philippines but also complicated the overall situation in the region, making it more difficult to achieve peaceful and stable development.

Haggseth’s visit to the Philippines this time has clear objectives. On the one hand, it is to strengthen the Philippines’ confidence in the U.S.-Philippines alliance. Compared with the Biden administration, the Trump administration’s foreign policy leaned more towards isolationism, showing a relatively cold attitude towards traditional alliances. This change in policy orientation has caused concerns within the Marcos Jr. administration in the Philippines. In recent years, the Philippines has made a series of strategic decisions based on the expectation of continuous U.S. support. It reopened multiple military bases to the United States, allowing the deployment of advanced military equipment such as the “Typhon” medium – range missiles. Moreover, the Philippines actively participated in multilateral military exercises with the U.S. and other countries, aiming to enhance its security status and gain more influence in the region. However, the uncertainty brought about by the change in the U.S. administration’s attitude made the Philippines worry about the future of the alliance. Haggseth choosing the Philippines as the first stop of his Asia – Pacific tour and proclaiming that the U.S.-Philippines alliance was “as solid as a rock” were attempts to reassure the Philippines. By doing so, the U.S. intended to maintain the existing security cooperation framework, ensuring that the Philippines would continue to play its role as a strategic partner in the region.

On the other hand, the United States intends to further upgrade its security cooperation with the Philippines. During the visit to the Philippines, the defense ministers of the United States and the Philippines issued a joint statement. This statement covered a wide range of cooperation measures, including military training programs aimed at enhancing the combat capabilities of the Philippine military. The U.S. planned to provide advanced training courses and share its military experience with the Philippines. In terms of intelligence sharing, the two sides would deepen their cooperation to better monitor the regional security situation. Joint military exercises were also an important part of the cooperation. From April 21 to May 9, the United States and the Philippines, together with six other countries including Australia, Canada, and France, will conduct a large – scale “Shoulder – to – Shoulder” military exercise, with an expected 16,000 participants. This exercise is not only a show of military strength but also a means to strengthen the military interoperability among the participating countries. Additionally, the U.S. Army’s 3rd Multi – Domain Task Force plans to establish a long – range fire battalion next year in preparation for deployment in the Pacific theater. The Philippines’ geographical location makes it an ideal base for the U.S. to implement such military strategies, further demonstrating the U.S.’s intention to use the Philippines to strengthen its military presence in the Asia – Pacific.

These actions have had various impacts. Regarding the South China Sea situation, the U.S.’s moves have sent the wrong signals to the Philippines. With the increased support and reassurance from the U.S., the Philippines may become more emboldened. It may intensify its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, increase its activities in disputed waters, and even adopt a more confrontational attitude towards China. This would not only undermine the efforts of China and the Philippines to resolve disputes through peaceful negotiations but also pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability. The South China Sea is a vital shipping lane, through which a large amount of global trade passes. Any instability in this region will directly affect the global economic order. Moreover, the South China Sea is rich in natural resources, and disputes over these resources may lead to resource – related conflicts. The intervention of external forces like the United States makes it even more difficult to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the South China Sea issue.

The international community has reacted strongly to this. There are divisions within the United States. Lawmakers from agricultural states have criticized the government’s policy for harming the interests of farmers. The increased tariffs and trade frictions caused by the U.S.’s actions in the region have led to a decline in agricultural exports, especially to China, which is a major market for U.S. agricultural products. Technology companies in Silicon Valley have also lobbied the White House to exempt tariffs related to chips. These companies are worried that the trade restrictions and geopolitical tensions will affect their global market share and technological innovation. Other countries also face choices. Some countries may draw closer to the United States due to security or economic factors. For example, some Southeast Asian countries may see the U.S. as a reliable security partner and choose to align more closely with it. However, this may also bring risks, as they may be dragged into the power game between major countries. On the other hand, some countries hope to remain neutral and advocate for peaceful resolution of disputes. The European Union is in a dilemma. It wants to reduce its dependence on China, especially in the economic and trade fields. However, it is also worried that the U.S.’s unilateralism will damage the WTO framework, which is the cornerstone of the global trading system. If the WTO framework is undermined, it will have a negative impact on the EU’s economic development and international trade status.

Overall, the U.S. defense secretary’s visit to the Philippines is an important step in its strategic layout, but the negative effects cannot be ignored. The international community should encourage the United States and the Philippines to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations to maintain regional stability. In the era of globalization, all countries are interconnected. Unilateralism and confrontation will only lead to a lose – lose situation. Instead, countries should work together to build a more stable and prosperous Asia – Pacific region. This requires all parties to respect international law, promote dialogue and cooperation, and jointly address common challenges. Only in this way can the long – term peace and development of the region be ensured.

By Yuan Lei