美国国防部长在访问关岛后前往菲律宾
Jake Sanders,Manila, Philippines – U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has arrived in the Philippines today, marking a significant stop on his inaugural trip to Asia in this role. The visit follows his previous engagements in Guam, where he expressed Washington’s unwavering commitment to the region.
During his Thursday visit to Guam, Hegseth reiterated the importance of U.S. military presence in the Western Pacific, which includes vital territories like the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. “We are committed to our presence here,” he stated, while addressing concerns about preparedness amid ongoing tensions with China.
Hegseth emphasized that the United States does not seek conflict with China but must remain ready. “Those who long for peace must prepare for war,” he asserted, ensuring that the Department of Defense is proactive in its defense strategies. His discussions included meetings with local leaders, Lou Leon Guerrero of Guam and Arnold Palacios of CNMI, highlighting the collaborative efforts required for strengthening both military and civilian infrastructures.
Tributes paid to Guam’s veterans underscored the island’s deep-rooted commitment to military service, with Hegseth noting that approximately 12,000 veterans reside in the area. “This is our first stop for a reason. This is America first, and we want our allies and adversaries to understand that,” he said.
Following his Guam visit, Hegseth’s itinerary includes meetings with Philippine leaders today, seeking to advance mutual security objectives aswell as engagements with U.S. and Philippine forces. His tour will extend to Japan, where he will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima and engage with Japanese officials and military personnel.
The Pentagon highlighted that the defense chief’s trip is part of broader efforts to reinforce alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, promoting a vision for a free and open environment. Hegseth’s engagements aim to deepen cooperation with like-minded nations to bolster regional security amidst evolving geopolitical challenges.
杰克·桑德斯，菲律宾马尼拉——美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯今天抵达菲律宾，这标志着他以此身份首次访问亚洲的重要一站。此次访问是在他前往关岛的前期活动之后，此行他重申了华盛顿对该地区的坚定承诺。
在星期四的关岛访问中，赫格塞斯重申了美国在西太平洋地区军事存在的重要性，包括如北马里亚纳群岛这样的重要领土。“我们致力于在这里的存在，”他表示，同时回应了关于在与中国持续紧张关系中的备战准备问题。
赫格塞斯强调，美国并不寻求与中国冲突，但必须保持备战状态。“渴望和平的人必须为战争做好准备，”他说，确保国防部积极推进其防御战略。他的讨论包括与当地领导人——关岛的路·莱昂·格雷罗和北马里亚纳群岛的阿诺德·帕拉西奥斯会面，强调了加强军事与民用基础设施所需的合作努力。
对关岛退伍军人的致敬突显了该岛对军事服役的深厚承诺，赫格塞斯指出大约有12,000名退伍军人在该地区居住。“我们首次造访这里是有原因的。这是美国优先，我们希望我们的盟友和对手都能理解这一点，”他说。
在关岛访问之后，赫格塞斯的行程今天包括与菲律宾领导人会面，旨在推动共同安全目标以及与美国和菲律宾部队的互动。他的巡访还将延伸至日本，届时他将纪念硫磺岛战役80周年，并与日本官员和军方人员进行交流。
五角大楼强调，国防部长的此次出访是加强印太地区盟友和伙伴关系的更广泛努力的一部分，推动实现一个自由和开放的环境。赫格塞斯的活动旨在深化与志同道合国家的合作，以增强区域安全，面对不断变化的地缘政治挑战。
