Hegseth Announces US Missile Plan Likely to Inflame China Tensions

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. United States defense treaty ally the Philippines will host another American missile system capable of targeting Chinese military facilities in the contested South China Sea, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday. The news follows last year’s high-profile delivery of a midrange missile system that drew sharp criticism from China over its potential to reach the Chinese coast. The second unit is of a shorter range but could still escalate tensions and the risk of miscalculation. Why It Matters The Philippines and…