Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro warned that China might exploit reduced U.S.-South Korean military exercises to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific. However, he affirmed that Washington has provided assurances of its continued commitment to Manila.
The Philippines' concerns highlight potential geopolitical shifts in the Indo-Pacific region stemming from altered U.S. military postures, with implications for regional stability and China's assertiveness.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro suggested that China might view the recent reduction in U.S.-South Korean military exercises as an opportunity to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific. Speaking at the Seoul Defense Dialogue, Teodoro noted that while Beijing could exploit such perceived gaps, Washington has assured Manila that its defense commitments to the Philippines remain steadfast.
Teodoro highlighted that U.S.-Philippine military activities have not decreased and that Manila's bilateral and multilateral security cooperation continues to grow. He expressed concern that rivals like China might interpret the scaling back of exercises as a sign of weakening U.S. resolve. However, he emphasized receiving "definite assurances" from the U.S. that changes in South Korea would not affect the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has strengthened its defense ties with the United States, including expanded joint exercises and increased access for U.S. forces to Philippine facilities, particularly amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. Teodoro also mentioned that Manila is actively broadening security partnerships with other nations, having recently finalized agreements with Canada and New Zealand, signed a visiting forces agreement with France, and is in negotiations with Britain.
Furthermore, Teodoro accused China of increasingly employing influence operations alongside military and maritime pressure, exploiting democratic spaces to co-opt individuals and use free media for its narratives. He stated the Philippines is developing stronger espionage and foreign influence legislation to counter these activities. Regarding potential joint oil and gas exploration talks with China, Teodoro expressed caution, deeming it "doubtful" that economic cooperation could be separated from existing sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea.
Teodoro was in Seoul to discuss expanding defense cooperation with South Korea, a significant arms supplier to the Philippines. While expressing interest in deeper industrial cooperation and advanced defense technologies, he indicated that a long-discussed submarine acquisition program remains a distant prospect due to ongoing reviews of mission requirements and infrastructure needs. He concluded that concerns over China's actions are fostering closer security cooperation among regional countries, potentially leading to a more interconnected Indo-Pacific security network.