Security experts from The Heritage Foundation, a prominent U.S. think tank and lead organization for Project 2025, have urged the Philippine government to enhance its defense posture and capabilities in response to growing Chinese aggression in the Bajo de Masinloc area.
Speaking at a Stratbase Institute roundtable discussion titled “Prospects for the Philippines–United States Alliance in a Complex Geopolitical Landscape”, Heritage Foundation Senior Policy Advisor for Defense Budgeting and NATO Policy Wilson Beaver stressed that Washington’s priority is for allies like the Philippines to build self-defense capacity—regardless of the source of their military equipment.
“We don’t have a strong preference for whether the Philippines buys American, Japanese, or Korean equipment. We just want the Philippines to have more military capabilities to defend itself so that there’s more we can both do for each other in the region,” Beaver said. He added that such investments should also generate socio-economic benefits, including job creation through industries like shipbuilding and defense manufacturing.
Beaver noted that the Philippines and Taiwan were the only nations exempted from a recent U.S. foreign military assistance review, underscoring Washington’s commitment to regional security.
“This shows the current administration is taking this region extremely seriously and prioritizing our relations with our closest friends in the region,” he said.
Robert Peters, Senior Research Fellow for Strategic Deterrence at The Heritage Foundation, highlighted the importance of public awareness in driving defense modernization.
“If you don’t have that popular support, you are simply not going to get the political direction that you need to get those capabilities,” Peters said.
“The goal is not to fight a war with China; the goal is to deter them from taking aggressive actions against sovereign nations within the theater,” he added.
Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit emphasized that the U.S.–Philippines alliance remains a cornerstone of regional stability and a model for nations that uphold the rule of law.
“As both nations invest in each other, their partnership grows stronger, more agile, and more meaningful,” Manhit said.
Beaver and Peters are visiting the Philippines as part of a two-week tour across Asia to meet with U.S. allies, assess security concerns, and identify priority capabilities and resources. Their findings will be included in a forthcoming report aimed at strengthening U.S. relations with the Philippines and enhancing regional security.
