Philippines Defense Chief Slams China’s Behavior in the South China
In a bold signal that the Philippines is doubling down on its tough stance against Beijing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has retained Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. amid a sweeping Cabinet revamp. Known as one of the most vocal critics of China in the region, Teodoro’s continued leadership at the Department of National Defense highlights the administration’s unwavering focus on national security, particularly as tensions in the South China Sea reach new heights.
Just days after the midterm elections, Marcos asked all Cabinet members to submit their resignations in what was described as a “bold reset.” While several officials were replaced—including Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo—the president’s decision to keep Teodoro signals strategic continuity. Teodoro recently made global headlines at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where he publicly accused China of suffering from a “deficit of trust and credibility,” calling it the biggest roadblock to resolving maritime disputes. His remarks drew international applause and reinforced Manila’s rising assertiveness in countering Chinese expansionism.
The reshuffle also elevates Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the officer who led the arrests of former President Rodrigo Duterte and religious figure Apollo Quiboloy, as the new chief of the Philippine National Police. Together, the appointments paint a picture of a government taking a harder line—both on foreign threats and domestic accountability—as Marcos reshapes his administration for the second half of his term.
A Withering Indictment on China’s Intentions
Teodoro delivered a blistering assessment of China’s regional behavior, warning that Beijing’s actions are not just aggressive, but deceptive. “They continue their activities while gaslighting us,” he said, arguing that China targets the Philippines more aggressively than other claimants because it sees Manila as a relatively easier target. “For dialogue to be effective, it must be coupled with trust. That is the biggest stumbling block to dispute resolution with China.”
He cited China’s militarization of Mischief Reef—an artificial island within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone—as a case of broken promises. “They said they wouldn’t militarize it. Now it’s a full-blown base. That’s not just breach of trust, that’s a demonstration of strategic duplicity.”
Teodoro added pointedly:
“That deficit of trust, which I think any rational person — or any person that is not ideologically biased, with freedom of thought and freedom of speech — will agree with.”
“To envision a China-led international order, we only need to look at how they treat their much smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, which runs counter to the ‘peaceful rise’ they initially promised.”
“China has a lot of trust-building to do to be an effective negotiating partner in dispute settlement. We have to call a spade a spade.”
Propaganda Disguised as Diplomacy
The Philippine defense chief did not mince words when it came to Chinese behavior in international forums. During the dialogue, Teodoro accused Chinese delegates of asking “propaganda spiels disguised as questions,” a jab that elicited laughter and applause from attendees. According to Teodoro, these tactics reveal a pattern: Chinese defense representatives are not engaging in real dialogue, but acting as “mouthpieces of the Communist Party,” uninterested in compromise or mutual understanding.
This criticism was echoed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which recently slammed China’s state-owned media for releasing “selectively edited” footage of AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., describing it as a propaganda attempt to discredit the Philippines.
China’s Activities and Regional Aggression
Teodoro’s statements come on the heels of a series of dangerous confrontations in the West Philippine Sea. In May 2025, a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship used water cannons and deliberately sideswiped a Philippine marine research vessel near Sandy Cay—provoking international condemnation from allies including the United States, Japan, Australia, and the European Union.
Similarly, late last month, the Chinese Navy conducted “combat readiness patrols” near Scarborough Shoal, an area seized by Beijing in 2012 but claimed by the Philippines. Philippine Coast Guard patrols have increasingly intercepted Chinese vessels deep within the Philippine EEZ—most recently just 76 nautical miles from Zambales province.
Teodoro confirmed that the Marcos Jr. administration has filed more than 150 diplomatic protests against China, highlighting what he called a deliberate and systematic campaign of harassment.
A Lone Voice in ASEAN?
Despite overlapping claims with China by other Southeast Asian states such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, Teodoro pointed out that none face China’s pressure as intensely as the Philippines. “No country in ASEAN is subjected to the same amount of intense activities in all fronts by China, but the Philippines,” he said.
ASEAN’s collective response has remained muted. Many members, including Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, maintain close economic and political ties to China and have routinely blocked stronger ASEAN statements. Even Malaysia and Indonesia, while facing incursions into their waters, have taken more cautious diplomatic approaches compared to the Philippines’ increasingly vocal stance.
While regional negotiations over a long-awaited Code of Conduct between ASEAN and China continue, progress remains sluggish and non-binding. Critics say Beijing uses the talks as diplomatic cover while consolidating control over disputed waters.
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China’s Counter-Narrative: Blame the U.S.
China, unsurprisingly, has pushed back hard. Chinese officials have repeatedly accused the Philippines of staging provocations in the South China Sea with U.S. backing. Meng Xiangqing, a professor at China’s National Defense University, claimed that “the South China Sea is not a place for the Philippines to act with impunity,” warning that “China will resolutely respond till the very end” if the Philippines persists in its “misguided” approach.
Meng also dismissed accusations of aggression, saying China “has not sought, does not seek and will never seek hegemony,” and accused the U.S. of “sowing discord” to contain China’s rise.
U.S.-Philippines Alliance: Stronger than Ever
Secretary Teodoro reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to its alliance with the United States, calling it “essential to preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.” He met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue, where both sides confirmed intensified military cooperation.
Key developments include:
Deployment of Advanced Systems: The U.S. will deploy the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and unmanned surface vessels to the Philippines.
High-End Training: Joint special operations training is being expanded in strategic locations like Batanes, close to Taiwan.
Cybersecurity Campaign: Both countries have launched a coordinated effort to combat cyber threats.
Defense Industry Cooperation: Steps are underway to integrate defense supply chains and boost economic resilience.
Teodoro underscored that while the Philippines desires peace, it must be “based on respect, trust, and international law.”
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Background: Legal Victory, Political Stalemate
At the heart of the standoff is a 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague, which invalidated China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” claim. The ruling, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), sided overwhelmingly with the Philippines.
China, however, has rejected the decision, calling it “null and void” and continues to build and militarize artificial islands across disputed waters.
End Words: Manila Doubles Down on Truth
Gilberto Teodoro’s fiery remarks in Singapore reflect a strategic shift: from restraint to resolve. In the face of intimidation, the Philippines is choosing to lead — not just in defending its own sovereignty, but in calling out a global power’s duplicity. With growing international support and a reinvigorated U.S. alliance, Manila is sending a clear message: truth, not propaganda, will shape the future of the South China Sea.
