War of Words Between China and Philippines over South China Sea Claims
- On Monday, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro warned that China could exploit recent cuts to U.S.-South Korean military exercises as an opportunity to reassert influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
- President Donald Trump ordered a "substantial reduction" in annual joint war games last month, prompting shortened drills that security analysts argue may undermine U.S. deterrence credibility in Asia.
- Teodoro noted that Washington provided "definite assurances" that U.S. commitments to the Philippines remain unchanged, with "no indication" the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty would be affected by South Korea changes.
- Manila is broadening security ties with Canada, New Zealand, France, and Britain, while Teodoro accused China of exploiting democratic systems to "expand its distortive narratives" alongside military pressure.
- Although seeking emerging defense technologies from South Korea, the Philippines' long-discussed submarine acquisition program remains "still under review" and is "some way off," according to Teodoro.
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85 Articles
Beijing tells Manila to ‘stop lying’ after minister exposes South China Sea note
China has accused Philippine officials of “grandstanding and lying” after Manila’s defence secretary publicly read aloud a Chinese diplomat’s note on the South China Sea that the Philippine minister described as “coercion, bullying and aggression”. “We urge certain people in the Philippines to stop this grandstanding and lying, and to protect China-Philippine relations and the peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Chinese foreign ministry…
Philippine defence chief accuses China of ‘bullying’ after receiving South China Sea note at Seoul forum
SEOUL, Sept 9 — The Philippine defence chief has accused Beijing of “bullying”, alleging he was handed a Chinese note at an international forum that asserted China’s...
Philippines Defence Secretary Teodoro hits out at China after being handed over a note mid-speech
In a video that has gone viral on social media, a man wearing a white sports coat was seen approaching Teodoro from behind and placing a sheet of paper on the table beside him at the Seoul Defence Dialogue.
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