China warned the Philippines anew on its alliance with the United States as it accused the two countries of stirring the tensions in the region amid the allies’ latest move to enhance military cooperation.
 

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. welcomes US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office) 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun blasted the recent statements from United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is currently in the country for a two-day visit, and called on the Philippines “to stop creating instability.”
 

“Whatever cooperation the U.S. and the Philippines have, it should not target or harm any third party, still less spread accusations about phantom threats to incite confrontation and heighten tensions in the region,” he said when asked about Hegseth’s comment on the US standing “shoulder-to-shoulder” with its partners and allies “for the 21st century to be a free century.”
 

The Chinese diplomat also urged the Philippines to stop seeking military confrontation amid its US backing.
 

“We also call on the Philippines to stop creating instability with U.S. backing, still less seek military confrontation,” he added.
 

Guo argued that “freedom of navigation and overflight has never had any problem in the South China Sea.”
 

Instead, he accused the United States as the one “who has abetted its allies’ provocations,” called China a “threat,” and claimed that freedom of navigation in the contested region was a concern.
 

He also criticized Washington for deploying “more and more military resource to the region and undermining its peace and stability.”
 

“The U.S. needs to get rid of its Cold War mentality, stop creating ideological confrontation, stop sowing tension in the region and discord between its countries, and stop being the disrupter and provocateur in the South China Sea,” he added.
 

During a joint press conference with his Philippine counterpart Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Friday, March 28, Hegseth said that Washington will enhance its military alliance with Manila and that it will deploy additional advanced military capabilities for joint training.
 

He also reflected on the “ironclad alliance” between the two countries “particularly in the face of Communist China’s aggression in the region.”
 

Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines came amid concern from its allies on how the Trump administration will manage its foreign relations in the Indo-Pacific region as it implements an “America First” policy.
 

But his Pentagon chief vowed that the Trump administration will “truly prioritize a shift” to the Indo-Pacific region. 
 

China’s claim of almost the entire resource-rich South China Sea has made the region a potential military flashpoint and pushed the Philippines to enter into military alliances and cooperation with old and new allies.