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Straits Times
5 days 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.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Manila's allies decry dangerous manoevres by Chinese boats in South China Sea
A China Coast Guard ship (left) cutting into the path of the BRP Datu Sanday of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on May 22 in the waters near Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea. A smaller Chinese vessel is seen on the right). — PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD MANILA: Several of the Philippines' allies have expressed grave concern over China's recent use of water cannons and a sideswiping manoeuvre against a Philippine vessel on a routine scientific mission near Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). In separate statements on Friday (May 23), foreign ambassadors condemned the incident, describing it as 'reckless.' United States Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said the China Coast Guard's (CCG) aggressive actions against a 'lawful civilian mission' near Sandy Cay recklessly endangered lives and threatened regional stability. Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador in the Philippines Kazuya Endo said he is 'very concerned about the dangerous actions, including use of water cannons against the BFAR vessel.' 'Japan upholds the rule of law and stands firm in defending a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,' he added. European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro said he is also concerned about China's 'latest dangerous actions against Philippine civilian scientific vessels.' 'The EU stands with the Philippines and reiterates the importance of upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and the rules-based international order, including the 2016 South China Sea arbitration,' he added. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu echoed these concerns, saying that Australia shares the Philippines' deep concern over the CCG's dangerous actions near Sandy Cay. 'Using water cannons and sideswiping civilian Philippine vessels endangers lives and harms regional stability. International law, particularly Unclos, must be respected,' she said. Meanwhile, the embassies of New Zealand and Canada in the Philippines expressed alarm and concern over China's dangerous actions within Philippine territory. On May 22, a CCG vessel blasted water cannons and sideswiped a Philippine ship conducting a routine marine scientific research mission near Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea. China accused the Philippines of 'conducting illegal activities' in the area, which it called Zhubi Jiao and Tiexian Jiao. China claimed that the Philippines' actions violated its territorial sovereignty and urged Manila to 'cease such infringements immediately.' 'Without approval from the Chinese government, two Philippine official ships illegally entered waters off China's Zhubi Jiao and Tiexian Jiao on Wednesday, with some personnel unlawfully landing on Tiexian Jiao,' CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said on Friday. 'CCG enforcement personnel have taken measures against the ships, landing on the reef to deal with the situation in a professional, standard, reasonable, and legal manner,' he added. China's continued aggression in Philippine waters stems from its sweeping claims over most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea—claims that have long been rejected by an international arbitral tribunal. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Trump's executive order to boost US deep-sea mining will force China to act
On April 24, President Donald Trump issued a groundbreaking executive order directing the United States to accelerate deep-sea mining operations in international waters, marking the first time the US government has endorsed the commercial extraction of seabed minerals. This decision intensifies the global debate surrounding seabed resource governance, ecological sustainability and strategic competition – particularly between the US and China. Advertisement By circumventing established multilateral frameworks under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and directly challenging the International Seabed Authority (ISA) – the principal UN body tasked with regulating international seabed mineral exploitation – Trump's move has set the stage for heightened geopolitical tensions, institutional uncertainty and serious environmental concerns. How China responds will shape the landscape of global maritime resource management and strategic competition for critical minerals. The international seabed, rich in strategic minerals such as metallic nodules, sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts, is increasingly recognised as a critical frontier in renewable energy, semiconductor manufacturing and defence applications. Trump's executive order authorising expedited deep-sea mining operations – which The Metals Company (TMC) has seized on – has significantly escalated tensions in global seabed governance. From Beijing's perspective, the US move constitutes a direct and unprecedented challenge to the multilateral framework managed by the ISA, raising profound institutional, environmental and geopolitical concerns that surpass mere competition over resources Advertisement
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Business Standard
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Why did China declare sovereignty over a disputed reef in South China Sea?
This development comes at a time when Philippine and US troops are conducting their annual military exercises, which include preparation for potential South China Sea conflicts New Delhi China has declared sovereignty over an uninhabited reef, known as Sandy Cay, in the South China Sea potentially intensifying tensions with the Philippines regarding the disputed area. Television channel China Central Television (CCTV) reported Saturday that China's coast guard 'implemented maritime control and exercised sovereign jurisdiction' over Sandy Cay in mid-April. This announcement represents China's most recent declaration of sovereignty in these disputed waters. China has long claimed authority over this area. This report emerged while Philippine and US troops are conducting their annual military exercises, which include preparation for potential South China Sea conflicts. China has expressed opposition to these war games, claiming they disrupt 'regional strategic stability'. Tensions between China and the Philippines have persisted in the South China Sea, where both nations assert overlapping claims to reefs and small islands. China bases its claim to the South China Sea on historical grounds, tracing back to records from the Xia and Han dynasties. China defines its territorial claims through the nine-dash line, which was put forward by Chiang Kai Shek in 1947. During China's republican period, China conducted surveys, created maps, and assigned names to 291 islands and reefs in the area. The United States maintains that the South China Sea constitutes international waters and that sovereignty in the region should be determined according to the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Sea (Unclos). Unclos stipulates that nations cannot claim sovereignty over any land formations that are underwater at high tide, or those that were previously submerged but have been artificially raised above high tide level through construction activities. Hague's ruling over nine-dash line In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled that China's expansive claims through its nine-dash line lacked legal grounding under international law, granting the Philippines a major victory. However, China, which rejects the ruling, has become more assertive in its actions. Beijing has deployed hundreds of coastguard vessels to patrol the disputed areas, raising concerns for the Philippines, other claimants, and countries operating in the South China Sea, including the United States. Recent flashpoints in South China Sea Confrontations between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea have intensified over the past year as Beijing has pushed its territorial claims. Central to recent standoffs between the Philippines and China are two hotly contested features located inside Manila's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, but which Beijing claims as its own. China uses the nine-dash line that takes in about 90 per cent of the South China Sea to assert its claim to sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal, a submerged reef coveted for its bountiful fish stocks, and the Second Thomas Shoal, home to a small contingent of Filipino sailors living aboard a rusty warship that Manila intentionally grounded in 1999 to further its territorial claims. Will the US get involved at South China Sea? The United States maintains a Mutual Defence Treaty with the Philippines and has repeatedly emphasised that it would defend its ally if its coastguard or armed forces were attacked anywhere in the South China Sea. The treaty significantly increases the stakes in the Philippines-China dispute should a miscalculation occur at sea. However, Philippine officials, including Marcos, have rejected suggestions of invoking the treaty in the current situation, emphasising that it would be considered only as a last resort.
South China Morning Post
02-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
South China Sea: Asean, Beijing need recalibrated approach to reach binding code of conduct
Disputes in the South China Sea have heightened insecurity in the Indo-Pacific , with claimant nations pursuing diplomatic and legal resolutions, including arbitration, while non-claimant states have advocated for freedom of navigation and compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). Advertisement Over the years, Asean and China have sought to maintain peace and stability by resolving long-standing territorial disputes peacefully, first with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in November 2002, and later through negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) framework adopted in August 2017. However, a serious gap remains between the diplomatic efforts and the complex reality of drafting the binding COC. Since negotiations started in March 2018, there have been no apparent breakthroughs for early conclusion of the COC. As a result, this lack of progress jeopardises the credibility of Asean and China, increasing tensions and the potential for conflict. Although there was reason for optimism following the third reading of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text, the Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat held on January 19 in Langkawi, Malaysia reiterated the importance of maintaining positive momentum towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC that is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 Unclos treaty. Advertisement A revised strategy will be essential for progressing COC negotiations to more effectively address conflicting sovereignty claims among the claimants; otherwise, the dream of an effective binding code will remain problematic and elusive.
