Latest news with #Teodoro
GMA Network
5 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Teodoro holds bilateral talks with Japan, Ukraine, Netherlands
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and the Netherlands' Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans discuss rules-based international order and exploring joint military activities, among others, during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday, June 1, 2025. DND Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. held separate bilateral meetings with defense officials of Japan, Ukraine, and The Netherlands on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue over the weekend, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Monday. Teodoro Jr. attended the 22nd International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 30 to June 1 to tackle security issues and defense ties with other nations. Japan Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tokyo wants deeper involvement in joint drills with Manila like Balikatan and Kamandag upon the entry into force of the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement. The two countries agreed on the importance of expanding cooperation in defense equipment production. To deter actions that undermine regional peace, Teodoro stressed the need for sustained bilateral and multilateral dialogues as he called for stronger alliances based on shared principles. Ukraine Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defence Oleksandr Kozenko thanked the Philippines for its support to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. A Ukrainian defense attaché will be assigned to Manila to develop bilateral defense ties, according to Kozenko. Teodoro said the Philippines wants to learn technological development from Ukraine, while Kozenko said Ukraine is also keen on learning maritime disaster response and post-trauma recovery from the Philippines. Both countries remain committed to international law. Ukraine vowed its adherence and strict compliance with the Geneva Conventions and openness to defense cooperation with the Philippines. The Netherlands Meanwhile, Teodoro expressed interest in learning from the Netherlands' best practices in defense governance. Dutch Minister of Defencs Ruben Brekelmans supported rules-based international order and expressed interest in exploring joint military activities with the Philippines. Teodoro and Brekelmans extended invitations for future visits, maintaining their intent to expand defense engagement and cooperation, according to the DND. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Gibo Teodoro calls for enhanced cross-regional security cooperation
Speaking before defense and security leaders in Singapore, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said countries should improve cross-regional security cooperation through joint strategic dialogues such as trilateral or quadrilateral summits of regional blocs on shared security concerns. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Sunday called for the enhancement of cross-regional security cooperation among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries, amid the ongoing rift between China and the United States and vulnerabilities of the global infrastructure. Speaking before defense and security leaders at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Teodoro said countries should improve cross-regional security cooperation through joint strategic dialogues such as trilateral or quadrilateral summits of regional blocs on shared security concerns. 'To this end, we must strengthen ASEAN and leverage its dialogue partnerships, including those with the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council,' he said. 'Another potential area of convergence is the development of shared legal frameworks and cooperative enforcement,' the defense official added. Teodoro also called for the broader participation of member states of the United Nations in the Security Council, citing the need to curtail the use of the veto as this 'may serve as a hindrance' to the interests of smaller states. 'For all its shortcomings, there is no preferable alternative to the rules-based order, especially for the security, prosperity, and survival of smaller states like the Philippines,' he added. Teodoro's remarks come amid the competition between the United States and China that has increasingly defined the regional security environment, and what the Department of Defense said endangers the portrayal of legitimate actions taken by smaller states as being made at the behest of major powers. 'As if we are mere pawns with no strategic agency of our,' he said, 'In that spirit, I would like to reiterate that our position on the West Philippine Sea is not a function of Sino-American strategic rivalry. Instead, it is caused by the overreach of the Chinese Communist Party.' To recall, the Philippines in 2013 challenged China over its claims on the West Philippine Sea, where Manila scored a victory and a landmark ruling by an international tribunal which invalidated Beijing's claims. Beijing has refused to acknowledge the Permanent Court of Arbitration's 2016 ruling that invalidated its nine-dash line. Its government in 2022 claimed that it will continue to adhere to what it described as a 'friendly consultation' with the Philippines after several Chinese vessels have been found 'swarming' areas in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has already filed over 150 diplomatic protests against China regarding the territorial dispute under the administration of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Philippines defence chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr calls out China's ‘propaganda spiel' at Shangri-La Dialogue
SINGAPORE - A 'deficit of trust' stands in the way of Beijing's ability to resolve disputes such as overlapping claims in the South China Sea, said Philippines defence chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr on June 1. Speaking on June 1 at a plenary session during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Mr Teodoro also hit back at questions from Chinese delegates after one official compared the Philippines' handling of the waterway dispute with China, with the approaches taken by Malaysia and Vietnam, asking why Manila could not 'do the same' and 'effectively manage' these differences. The same official also asked if Manila's intention was to 'act as a proxy for external powers'. Among the claimants of the contested waterway, Manila, which has a mutual defence treaty with Washington, has been one of the most vocal in speaking out against Beijing's moves to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea, with tense confrontations breaking out in recent times between the two countries' vessels and coast guards. This is in contrast to fellow Asean member states who also have territorial claims in the strategic waterway, which China claims the majority of via a 'nine-dash line' it uses to demarcate its territory. The area within the dashes overlaps with areas that Asean members Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Indonesia claim as their territories or exclusive economic zones. Currently, there are ongoing negotiations between Asean and Beijing to ink a Code of Conduct to manage South China Sea disputes peacefully . Labelling the queries posed during the session as a 'propaganda spiel disguised as questions' , which drew applause from those in attendance, Mr Teodoro said: 'On dialogue with China, unfortunately, my personal opinion (is that) the fact that the way the question was asked... engenders a deficit of trust in China's words vis-a-vis action.' He also said that while the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam were part of Asean , they are also sovereign countries with their own territorial integrity. 'I'm sure that if what China is doing to the Philippines is done to Malaysia or to any Asean country, you will see a different reaction. Certainly, as an Asean brother, the Philippines will stand up with that Asean brother in time of need and in support and defence of internal law and Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),' he said. Commenting on conducting dialogue with China , Mr Teodoro said that for such exchanges to be effective, it must be coupled with trust. He added: '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… And that's the biggest stumbling block in dispute resolution or dialogue with China, the deficit of trust.' And while some Asean member states do have overlapping territorial claims with each other, these differences are dealt with in a cooperative and peaceful manner because of the trust between the nations. 'Asean should not allow other parties to define what Asean centrality means. And not (allow others) to use Asean's perceived action or inaction as a wedge to drive divisions among us,' Mr Teodoro said. When asked for a response on Mr Teodoro's remarks, Senior Colonel Qi Dapeng, a National Defence University professor who was among the Chinese delegates that posed questions at the session, took issue with how the Chinese queries were being framed as propaganda slogans. He told the Straits Times at the sidelines of the forum that Mr Teodoro has failed to respond to the issue 'properly'. In his remarks, Mr Teodoro warned that disruptions in strategic maritime corridors such as the South China Sea, the Suez Canal and the Bab el Mandeb, will have impacts across the globe. 'They are arteries of the global economy. Disruption in any of these maritime corridors triggers ripple effects across continents, impacting trade flows, military deployments and diplomatic posture,' he said. Also speaking during the plenary session on Enhancing Security Cooperation for a Stable Asia-Pacific were Thailand's deputy prime minister and defence minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Lithuania's Minister of National Defence Dovile Sakaliene. Mr Phumthum said that there have been efforts for Asean to unite on various fronts, including to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure as well as cross-regional security mechanisms. One area of concern in particular was the protection of undersea infrastructure, which he said remains vulnerable to physical attacks, sabotage and natural disasters. 'Disruption in this domain carries far-reaching consequences for regional economies and security,' he said. Thailand's deputy prime minister and defence minister Phumtham Wechayachai said that there have been efforts for Asean to unite on various fronts. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG Thailand, along with Singapore and Brunei, have proposed that the Asean Digital Masterplan 2025, which focuses on advancing digital transformation in the region, drive cooperation in this area, he added. Answering questions about Thailand's efforts to combat the networks of illegal scam centres that have been operating along its border with Myanmar, Mr Phumthum said this involves collective efforts from all countries. Bangkok and Beijing had earlier in 2025 launched a series of crackdowns to tackle the multi-billion-dollar scam hubs located in Myanmar, repatriating thousands of foreigners – including many Chinese nationals – who had been held captive there . 'We use our positive relations with Myanmar and talk with all concerned countries about online scammer issues, and collaborate in helping victims and trying to find a durable resolution,' he said. Thailand has also cut cross-border supply of electricity, water and internet connectivity to areas in Myanmar linked with these scam centres, he noted. 'This has undoubtedly impacted the local people in the area, but it will help us reduce the problem of online scammers and transnational crime,' Mr Phumthum added. Meanwhile, Ms Sakaliene highlighted Lithuania's Indo-Pacific Strategy that was launched in 2023 in response to the need to ensure security, economic cooperation and strengthen the small state's international position. 'We do have something to offer. And as one of my wonderful colleagues said here, being small does not mean being insignificant, especially where there are a lot of such small ones like us,' she said. On May 31, United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said during the security conference that the future, security and prosperity of the US and its Indo-Pacific allies were linked and 'bound together'. He also encouraged Asian countries to increase their defence spending. Ms Sakaliene said that while the United States' strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific was justified and necessary, it was not Washington's responsibility alone. 'I'm very glad to hear that so many of us here agree that we do have to work together,' she said, warning that if more 'coordinated action' by 'less diplomatically' aligned and authoritarian regimes were to take place, it would complicate global stability for decades. She added: 'In these times of uncertainty, I believe that our ability to weave a tightly knit network of allies and partners from Europe to the Indo-Pacific, based on fair government sharing and defence of joint interest against common threats, is crucial.' Additional reporting by Yew Lun Tian Tan Tam Mei is assistant foreign editor at The Straits Times. She oversees coverage of South-east Asia. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
China says Hegseth calling it a threat is touting a Cold War mentality
BEIJING (AP) — China on Sunday denounced U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for calling the Asian country a threat, accusing him of touting a Cold War mentality as tensions between Washington and Beijing further escalate. The foreign ministry said Hegseth had vilified Beijing with defamatory allegations the previous day at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a global security conference. The statement also accused the United States of inciting conflict and confrontation in the region. 'Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation,' it said, referring to the post-World War II rivalry between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. 'No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself,' it said, alleging that Washington is also undermining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. Hegseth said in Singapore on Saturday that Washington will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what the Pentagon sees as rapidly developing threats by Beijing, particularly in its aggressive stance toward Taiwan. China's army 'is rehearsing for the real deal,' Hegseth said. 'We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent.' The Chinese statement stressed that the Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair, saying the U.S. must 'never play with fire' with it. It also alleged Washington had deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea, was 'stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific' and 'turning the region into a powder keg.' In a Facebook post on Saturday, China's Embassy in Singapore said Hegseth's speech was 'steeped in provocations and instigation.' The U.S. and China had reached a deal last month to cut U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs from 145% to 30% for 90 days, creating time for negotiators from both sides to reach a more substantive agreement. China also reduced its taxes on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%. But it's uncertain if a trade war truce will last. Trump in a social media post on Friday said he would no longer be 'nice' with China when it comes to trade and accused Beijing of breaking an unspecified agreement with the U.S. Tensions escalated anew after the U.S. said on Wednesday it would start revoking visas for Chinese students studying there. At the Singapore forum on Sunday, Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro scoffed at the idea that the U.S. was the problem. His country has been involved in increasingly violent clashes with China over competing claims in the South China Sea. Teodoro said what the Chinese government saw as fair might be contrary to the norms accepted by the rest of the world. The Chinese Embassy in Singapore later posted three Facebook posts to address Teodoro's 'groundless accusations,' arguing the South China Sea Islands are China's inherent territories. It said the 'troublemaker' is not China, pointing to what it called recent illegal intrusions by the Philippines into the waters adjacent to two reefs. It also accused 'some outside power' of posing the biggest threat to its peace with the deployment of offensive weapons and roping in allies for frequent military drills. 'Which country is coercing and bullying others, and instigating conflicts and confrontation in the South China Sea? The answer is clear to all,' it said, without naming any nation. Separately, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore on Saturday criticized attempts to link the issue of Taiwan with that of the war in Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a dangerous double standard in focusing on a potential conflict with China at the cost of abandoning Ukraine. The embassy did not name Macron in its post on Facebook, but the post included a photo showing the French president at the Singapore forum. 'If one tries to denounce 'double standards' through the lens of a double standard, the only result we can get is still double standard,' it said. China, which usually sends its defense minister to the Shangri-La forum, this time sent a lower-level delegation led by Maj. Gen. Hu Gangfeng, the vice president of the People's Liberation Army National Defense University. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Philippine Defence chief rips China officials in testy exchange
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said China's military was 'grabbing territory in the South China Sea'. - Photo: Bloomberg SINGAPORE: Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro engaged in a testy back-and-forth with Chinese officials at a Singapore security forum on Sunday (June 1), accusing leaders in Beijing of grabbing territory in disputed waters and repressing their own people. During a panel at the Shangri-La Dialogue, two senior colonels in the People's Liberation Army directed questions at Teodoro, asking whether the Philippines would serve as a US proxy in Asia or adopt a friendlier approach toward China. Teodoro thanked the pair for "propaganda spiels disguised as questions,' a line that received rare applause from those in attendance. He went on to lambast China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, saying a lack of trust in Beijing was "the biggest stumbling block' to resolving the dispute. "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,' Teodoro said. He added that he couldn't trust a country that "represses its own people.' Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has pushed back against Beijing's sweeping claims over the strategic waterway, leading to confrontations between their ships. Manila last month said China's Coast Guard fired a water cannon on a state fisheries vessel conducting research in Sandy Cay in the Spratlys area. "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,' Teodoro said. China claims more than 80% of the South China Sea and backs this up with a 1947 map that shows vague dashes outlining its claims, which are disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. In 2016, an international tribunal said China's sweeping claims have no legal basis, a ruling that Beijing rejects. In an interview with Bloomberg Television's Haslinda Amin later on Sunday, Teodoro said China's military was "grabbing territory in the South China Sea' and expanding its presence to the Arctic and off Australia. "For us, our biggest threat is China,' he said. "And on that, we converge not only with the United States but with other countries.' The Southeast Asian nation is on the frontlines of US-backed efforts to deter China in the region, with the long-time allies ramping up military drills to enhance interoperability. Apart from granting the US military access to more Philippine bases, including some in close proximity to Taiwan, Manila has also signed agreements on mutual military visits with Japan and New Zealand, and is in discussions on similar pacts with Canada and France. China has built artificial islands with military infrastructure in contested waters to bolster its expansive claims. The Philippines has a "variety of options' in the event Beijing seizes a reef that's close to Philippine shores. "We have to uphold our territorial integrity and sovereignty,' Teodoro said. "And we have devised options in our toolkit to deal with contingencies, and we plan for these and train for them accordingly.' - Bloomberg
