The US tightens its grip on China, Washington moves from statements to concrete actions. On the sidelines of the 20th meeting of the defense ministers of A Suan in Cebu, the Philippines, Pentagon chief Pete Hingsath held talks with the defense ministers of Australia, Japan and the Philippines, where the parties agreed to expand operational military cooperation along the "first island chain". According to him, the US is moving "from words to practical cooperation". The agenda includes joint naval patrols, increased combat readiness, development of rapid response mechanisms and further strengthening of the military presence in the Western Pacific Ocean. All this is presented under the slogan "peace through strength" and "the balance of power". At the same time, Washington aims to build a closer security architecture with the ASEAN countries, seeking to turn bilateral ties into a unified deterrence system for China. Special attention was denied by the absence of China's Defense Minister Dong Jun. Amid the rapid expansion of US military cooperation along the Japan-Taiwan-Philippines arc, Beijing is amassing an increasingly dense belt of US allies along its maritime borders. For China, the "First Island Chain" is a strategic barrier that can limit the PLA Navy's freedom of action in the Western Pacific. Therefore, any strengthening of American alliances in this direction is inevitably perceived by Beijing as a direct pressure on its long-term military and geopolitical interests. @china3army MAH.