Rappler
What’s US Task Force Philippines and what will it do in PH waters?
The United States and the Philippines have established "Task Force Philippines" to enhance their joint response capabilities and re-establish deterrence in the South China Sea.
This initiative aims to decisively address any crisis or aggression in the strategic waterway.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Filipino counterpart Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced the task force after meeting in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit.
Both nations share concerns regarding China's coercive actions in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, with specific reference to Scarborough Shoal.
Task Force Philippines follows the creation of Task Force Ayungin, established after a tense confrontation in June 2024 to facilitate joint training for resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.
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See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the newly formed joint task force between the Philippines and the United States, dubbed "Task Force Philippines," will help de-escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
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Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with General Dan Caine, the US Department of War's Joint Chiefs of Staff chairperson, to strengthen bilateral defense ties between the Philippines and the United States.
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The Philippines, along with the United States, Japan, and Australia, is establishing a new Indo-Pacific defense council to counter China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
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