Secretary of US Defense Department Pete Hegseth Photo: VCG

The US Department of Defense announced on Friday that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will depart next week for a trip to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines and Japan. This will be Hegseth's first official visit to the Indo-Pacific region during his tenure. Unlike traditional first trips to the Asia-Pacific region by US defense secretaries, which typically include South Korea, Hegseth has notably omitted South Korea and included the Philippines instead. Experts interviewed by the Global Times believe that this arrangement demonstrates the US intention to target China and is likely to encourage the Philippines to take further provocative actions against China.

According to information from the official website of the US Department of Defense, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that "as part of his first official visit to the region, Hegseth will first travel to Hawaii to meet with civilian and military leaders from the US Indo-Pacific Command. From there, Hegseth will travel to Guam, where he is expected to tour the military facilities and receive capabilities briefs. Next, he will travel to the Philippines, where he will advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with US and Philippine forces. In Japan, Hegseth will participate in a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima and will later meet with Japanese leaders and US military forces." 

"Secretary Hegseth's trip comes as the US builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security," Parnell said, noting that these engagements will drive ongoing efforts to strengthen US alliances and partnerships toward their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Traditionally, the destinations for the US Secretary of Defense's first visit to the Asia-Pacific region typically include Japan and South Korea. For instance, in March 2021, then US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin made his inaugural trip, visiting Japan, South Korea, and India. During US President Donald Trump's first term, then secretary of defense James Mattis made his first visit in early February 2017, traveling to South Korea and Japan.

This time, the upcoming visit of Hegseth to the Asia-Pacific has not only overlooked South Korea but also included an unusual stop in the Philippines. What factors are driving this shift? Military expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times on Saturday that the US secretary of defense's decision to forgo a visit to South Korea is reportedly linked to the country's unstable domestic political situation, however, this does not imply a diminished role for South Korea in the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, as it remains a crucial military ally for the US.

Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Issues, National Institute for South China Sea Studies, stated in an interview with the Global Times on Saturday that the current political direction in South Korea remains uncertain. He noted that the Trump administration has its own perspectives regarding the Korean Peninsula issue and US-North Korea relations, and that South Korea's strategic value to the US is relatively lower compared to that of the Philippines and Japan. 

"It is worth noting that the unprecedented inclusion of the Philippines in Hegseth's first trip to the Asia-Pacific as secretary of defense serves a 'catch-up homework' purpose, as he knows very little about ASEAN countries. On the other hand, according to information released by the US side, the two parties are expected to discuss the so-called maritime security issues of the Philippines and encourage the country to take provocative actions against China," said Zhang.

The "catch-up homework" mentioned by this military expert refers to the fact that during the previous nomination confirmation hearing, as the nominee for US secretary of defense, Hegseth was unable to accurately respond to questions related to ASEAN countries. When asked whether he could name the importance of at least one of the nations in ASEAN and what type of agreement the US has with at least one of those nations, as well as how many nations are in ASEAN, he only stated "I know we have allies in South Korea, in Japan and in AUKUS with Australia."

Ding believes that Hegseth's choice of the Philippines and Japan for his first visit to the Indo-Pacific region highlights the US strategic intent toward China. Washington's alliances with Manila and Tokyo serve as key tools for its involvement in maritime issues surrounding China, advancing its strategy of using maritime leverage against the country. 

By relying on these two alliances, the US aims to continuously contain and pressure China on issues related to the East China Sea and South China Sea - an approach Washington sees as "low-cost and highly effective," Ding noted.

"Given growing concerns among traditional US allies about the unpredictability of its policies, Hegseth is expected to make strong diplomatic gestures during this visit to reassure both the Philippines and Japan," Ding said.

The US "reassurance" may further embolden the Philippines. On February 4, US and Philippine fighter aircraft staged a "joint patrol" over the South China Sea, deliberately undermining regional peace and stability. Zhang stated, "It is foreseeable that, with US support, the Philippines will continue to take more provocative actions."

Unlike his two predecessors, Austin and Mattis, who chose Asia-Pacific countries for their first overseas visits, Hegseth made Europe the destination of his first trip, visiting Germany, Belgium, and Poland.

"Successive US administrations have consistently prioritized Europe and Asia as strategic focal points, as reflected in the concentration of US aircraft carrier deployments in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. However, Hegseth's remarks during his European trip highlighted a significant shift in US defense policy," Zhang noted.  

Given the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on European nations, Hegseth's visit to Europe aimed to signal to allies that they must take on greater defense responsibilities. On one hand, it served to reassure American allies, while on the other, it prepared the groundwork for a potential US disengagement from Europe.

"At NATO headquarters, Hegseth explicitly stated that the US needs to focus its military efforts on the Indo-Pacific region, prioritizing the security of its borders while at the same facing peer competitor China. This indicates that the US plans to gradually withdraw troops from Europe and the Middle East, redirecting efforts to reinforce domestic security and strengthen its military presence in the Asia-Pacific," said Zhang.

Zhang further explained that in December 2017, the US released its National Security Strategy report, formally proposing the so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy," which replaced the previous "Asia-Pacific" framework. "Hegseth has previously emphasized that the core of America's future security strategy lies in protecting homeland security and building a containment alliance system against China in the Asia-Pacific. Hence, his upcoming visits to Japan and the Philippines aim to solidify US-Japan and US-Philippines military alliances, serving Washington's 'Indo-Pacific Strategy.'" 

The expert noted that the US unquestionably views these two nations as "pawns" in its attempt to contain China, exploiting their maritime territorial disputes with China to maintain US dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

Ding stressed, "Regarding China's maritime issues, US policies in the military-security domain inherit inertia from previous administrations but also involve nuanced strategic adjustments under the current government. We must remain highly vigilant toward these intentions." 

He added that China's capability to manage situations and safeguard its rights continues to grow, while the country maintains strategic composure and possesses ample means to navigate regional diplomatic affairs effectively.