MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday said the country’s shift of focus from internal to external defense was triggered by China’s “aggressive” and “irresponsible” actions in the West Philippine Sea.
“Obviously we have an external actor who is acting irresponsibly and aggressively in the West Philippine Sea,” Teodoro said in an ambush interview in Manila.
“And it’s high time, because of the world conditions [and] the volatility of geopolitical security, not only in the Asean theater, in our own environs, but in the world, necessitates a defense establishment that is a threat agnostic, but also geared towards addressing our vulnerabilities to external threats,” he also said.
China asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the western section of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), causing tensions between the two countries.
A 2016 international tribunal ruling, however, effectively dismissed China’s sweeping claims while ruling in favor of the Philippines.
RELATED STORIES
Defense chief says China must show sincerity first before PH talks on WPS
Teodoro blasts China’s ‘reversal of truth’ over claims on PH-US joint patrol
Teodoro to China: Stop ‘invasion’ through harassment, structure build-up in WPS