It is no secret that Xi Jinping and Communist China want to dominate and destroy America’s role as a global beacon of freedom and democracy and our very way of life. They want to dictate where we can sail, where we can trade, and where we can invest. Xi and his thugs also try to pressure our friends and partners to distance themselves from us.
This is why supporting our allies is so vital, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. They are the front line of defense against the Communist Chinese onslaught.
I was honored to visit one of our greatest allies in that region, the Philippines, for the second time as senator earlier this month. While there, I met with Filipino leaders to explore ways to strengthen our economic and security ties and discuss how we can stand united against Xi’s adversarial advances.
This recent trip reaffirmed my long-standing belief: the U.S.-Philippines relationship is vital to our national security and economic prosperity, especially regarding the threat of Communist China.
Americans and Filipinos share common values, and our partnership directly affects our future and the future of global security. Thankfully, President Trump understands this and is fully committed to ensuring the U.S. has the strongest military force, enforces Peace Through Strength, and works with our Filipino allies to protect America’s best interests around the world.
As a U.S. senator and a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, I am committed to working in Congress to support the administration and our Filipino allies.
The Philippines is more than just an anchor for the U.S. in the western Pacific. It is a vibrant democracy, an engaging economy, and, most importantly, an unashamed ally of the U.S. that wants stronger and closer ties. The U.S.-Philippine relationship is rooted in shared values and history. The Philippines is a thriving democracy with a deep commitment to freedom, a legacy forged through our shared sacrifices in World War II and decades of partnership since then.
The Philippines is a linchpin in the Indo-Pacific, a region where the world’s economic and geopolitical future is being shaped. With its strategic location, the Philippines is essential to countering the growing influence of adversarial powers like China.
The South China Sea — which would be better named the West Philippine Sea — is a critical artery for global trade, with nearly one-third of the world’s maritime commerce passing through it. Ensuring freedom of navigation in these waters isn’t just a regional issue — it’s a matter of global economic stability that affects American businesses, consumers and jobs.
The Philippines is doing all it can to ensure that freedom of navigation, but it cannot do it without the help of its partners, like the United States, who benefit from this freedom of navigation.
As Communist China continues its illegal, coercive and aggressive actions in this region, our military partnership with the Philippines is more important than ever. By standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our Filipino allies, we send a clear message: The U.S. will not allow authoritarian regimes to bully our partners or threaten our interests.
The Philippines is a great economic partner that likes and appreciates American business, with billions of dollars of goods and services exchanged between our countries every year. In 2024, Florida alone exported approximately $1.06 billion worth of goods to the Philippines. We can further support American businesses and create opportunities by strengthening economic ties with partners that are happy to support our success over nations like Communist China that seek to destroy us.
The Philippines and its people, under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., are aligned with the U.S. and President Trump, both economically and militarily. In the Filipino government and its people, we have a friend, partner and ally that is strategically placed, both geographically and economically, and highly motivated to work with us as Trump pursues peace through strength and delivers on the America first promises made to the American people.
Thankfully, President Trump understands that a strong, stable and prosperous Philippines strengthens America’s position in the Indo-Pacific, protects our economic interests, and upholds the democratic values we hold dear.
Most importantly, China can’t stand that the Filipino-American alliance is a massive roadblock to its desired domination of Southeast Asia and the world. We must keep it that way.
We face a complex and competitive world in which Communist China is not just an existential threat, but one committed to actively undermining and destroying our way of life in every way possible. If we seek to avoid the devastating conflict with tyranny that Xi is seeking, we must walk forward to boldly counter Communist China’s aggression.
Peace through strength is within our reach, but only if the U.S. remains committed to a strong and resilient ally in the Philippines.
Republican Rick Scott represents Florida in the U.S. Senate and serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is a former Florida governor.
