Defense Chief Addresses South China Sea Territorial Dispute Candidly
During an international defense forum in Singapore, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. offered a forthright reply to probing questions regarding the South China Sea territorial dispute. This key dialogue unfolded at the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 1, where Teodoro engaged with Chinese military officials amid global defense leaders.
The South China Sea territorial dispute remains a sensitive topic, and Teodoro faced pointed inquiries from Senior Colonels Qi Dapeng and Zhang Chi, both respected professors in Chinese military institutions. Qi questioned why the Philippines had not adopted a dialogue-first approach like Malaysia and Vietnam, suggesting Manila preferred confrontation. He also referenced Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim’s advice to Philippine President Marcos Jr. about communicating with China.
Teodoro Challenges Chinese Officials’ Narrative
In response, Teodoro sharply criticized the questions as “propaganda spiels disguised as questions,” highlighting a growing trust deficit between China’s words and actions. His candid remarks earned applause from attendees, reflecting broad support for the Philippine stance.
“While the Philippines is an ASEAN member, it remains a sovereign nation with its own territorial integrity,” Teodoro emphasized. He added, “If China were to treat Malaysia or other ASEAN countries as it does the Philippines, their reactions would be very different.”
Rejecting Proxy War Allegations Amid Regional Tensions
On concerns about a potential proxy war fueled by U.S. involvement, Teodoro firmly denied that the Philippines acts as a proxy in Sino-American rivalry. Instead, he attributed tensions to China’s overreach, notably Beijing’s contested dash-line claims invalidated by a 2016 international ruling.
Teodoro underscored China’s inconsistency, noting its claim of peaceful intent contrasts sharply with its militarization of the Panganiban (Mischief) Reef inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. “What began as simple bamboo shelters for fishermen has transformed into a heavily militarized artificial island,” he remarked.
“China professes peaceful intentions, yet denies the Philippines its rightful ownership under international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”
Global Support for Philippines’ Sovereignty
The defense chief highlighted broad international backing for the Philippines’ sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, contrasting it with the absence of support for China’s expansive claims.
“Effective dialogue demands trust, and China must build much more trust to become a credible partner in resolving disputes,” he concluded.
Critique of Chinese Media Propaganda
Earlier, Teodoro and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. condemned Chinese pseudo-journalists who published baseless accusations of Philippine encroachment in China’s internal waters. This followed the military chief’s refusal to engage with their claims, which were dismissed as propaganda by Philippine officials.
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