Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. delivers a speech during the fifth plenary session at the Shangri-La Dialogue Summit in Singapore on June 1, 2025. MOHD RASFAN, AFP/File
MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday again took aim at China, warning at another forum against Beijing’s alleged attempt to reshape the global order into one centered on Chinese interests.
‘I’m not an actor’: Teodoro fires back at China’s ‘theatrics’ remark‘
Speaking at a maritime forum hosted by the Asia Pacific College in Makati City, Teodoro described a Sinocentric society as one “where there is always a big brother of the state looking over your shoulder,” while urging students to dig deeper into issues and translate their theoretical frameworks into advocacy.
“They are attempting to reshape the world order to one which is more sinocentric. A world order with Chinese characteristics, whatever that means. But it is scary if that is the future of the world. How can you have the credibility of one that will hold the existence of future generations particularly in the maritime domain where it has a regime which is opaque, non-transparent, unequal, and violent for that matter?” Teodoro said in his speech.
“This is the time that Filipinos should go out once again, venture once again to the rest of the world and convince, advocate, right now,” he added. “The paranoia of a dictatorial regime is unbelievable. So, venture out once again. Advocate. Because this is a world issue, not only a Philippine issue.”
Teodoro has repeatedly criticized China over its actions in the South China Sea, stemming from its expansive claims in the resource-rich waters as it continued to reject a 2016 arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines.
The forum was held as part of the Philippines’ celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo), a month-long observance aimed at raising public awareness of maritime and archipelagic issues and policies, as well as the importance of protecting the country’s marine environment through activities led by government agencies and local government units.
Teodoro: PH must ‘push back’ vs China, strengthen defense ties amid regional tensions
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