U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly released 29-page national security strategy placed China at the center of U.S. policy priorities for the coming years.
While the document discussed tensions in the South China Sea and emphasized the need to maintain U.S. military dominance across the first island chain, analysts noted that it did not mention the Philippines, a formal U.S. defense treaty ally.
Zack Cooper of the American Enterprise Institute wrote on X that Southeast Asia was “almost completely absent” from the strategy and highlighted that the Philippines “isn’t even mentioned.”
“China is by far the biggest focus in Asia (and elsewhere). Trump team clearly seeing all of Asia through the lens of China. Southeast Asia? Almost completely absent. US treaty ally Philippines isn’t even mentioned! Pacific Islands also nowhere to be seen,” Cooper said.
Derek Grossman of the Center for a New American Security likewise observed “basically zero discussion” of Southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands.
The strategy presents a sharper tone on Taiwan than Trump’s 2017 national security plan, which referenced the island only briefly. In contrast, the new document discusses Taiwan in multiple paragraphs and argues that its strategic location and semiconductor dominance warrant heightened U.S. attention.
It also outlines plans to bolster U.S. and allied military capabilities across the island chain from Japan to Southeast Asia, asserting that partners must increase their own defense contributions.
The report appears against the backdrop of China’s intensified maritime activity, including what Japan described as Beijing’s largest show of force in regional waters this week.
