Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. meets with U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts and Tammy Duckworth on the sidelines of the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, 2025 | Photo via Department of National Defense Facebook
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s pointed message at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore clearly states the Philippine position. The Philippine Defense chief met with top defense officials on the sidelines of the SLD, foremost among them US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. I’m told they had a very productive discussion, focusing on defense cooperation, particularly in light of the evolving security dynamics in the region. Both sides reaffirmed the alliance and reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Recalling the recent Balikatan exercise in April as proof of the longstanding and ironclad relationship between the US and the Philippines, under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, Secretary Hegseth praised the Philippines for showing “courage and clarity in the South China Sea” and for recognizing the challenges that both nations face. “We stand shoulder-to-shoulder in our pursuit of peace and stability in the region,” the US Defense chief stated.
Secretary Teodoro also met with several US senators and congressmen who assured him of continued bipartisan support for the Philippines, highlighting the ironclad commitment of the US to the relationship. Expressing his appreciation for the bipartisan support, Secretary Gibo highlighted that “American leadership is indispensable, and having this kind of leadership creates reassurance that there will be a balance of power.”
He scored a lot of points during the forum, especially when he addressed the questions posed by senior colonels from China’s National Defense University. Our Asian neighbor suffers from a “deficit of trust,” Secretary Gibo said, underscoring that “for dialogue to be effective, it must be coupled with trust. And China has a lot of trust building to do to be an effective negotiating partner in disputed settlements. We have to call a spade a spade. And that’s what we see, and that is the biggest stumbling block to dispute resolution or dialogue with China.”
Recognized as the leading defense and security forum in Asia, with participants that include defense ministers, top military officials, diplomats, and security experts, the Shangri-La Dialogue provides a platform for open dialogue and straightforward exchanges on the most critical security issues in the region. Secretary Gibo certainly had a great opportunity to highlight the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea and the need to boost cross-regional security cooperation through strategic dialogues, such as multilateral summits, to discuss shared security concerns.
“We must strengthen ASEAN and leverage its dialogue partnerships, including those with the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council,” he said, and pointed out the need to curtail the use of the veto in the United Nations as its exercise may serve as “a hindrance to the interests of smaller states, especially those besieged by larger ones.”
Many said that Secretary Gibo is on the right track in strengthening relationships not only with like-minded nations but also others that are facing situations similar to the Philippines – and was right in underscoring that while we seek peace, it must be sustainable, “one grounded in our own resilience and reinforced through alliances with like-minded partners.”
Gibo’s mandate is to strengthen the capability of our armed forces and achieve a credible defense posture. But as pointed out by a Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) blog post titled “Beyond Balikatan: Addressing the Philippines’ Maritime Limitations with Strategic Policy Solutions,” the Philippines has made significant improvements in developing maritime capabilities but remains “underequipped to stand against China without US assistance.”
“Let’s hope our politicians will recognize the serious challenges we face in the geopolitical sphere and take the necessary steps for the survival of our country. Let’s set aside our personal agendas and consider the country’s best interests first.”
The Philippines has fewer than 60,000 active personnel in the Navy and Coast Guard. In comparison, the People’s Liberation Army Navy alone has more than 250,000 personnel, “with additional capacity from a large coast guard and growing fleets of maritime militia, which most commonly confront the Philippine Coast Guard and fisherfolk.”
Given budget limitations in its defense spending, the Philippines must be prioritized in US Indo-Pacific strategy as the only treaty ally with a claim to the South China Sea, the CSIS blog post asserted, underscoring that “the United States should pursue a more ambitious set of initiatives to bolster the Philippines’ ability to defend itself, both independently and alongside allies and partners.”
Among the policy recommendations is for the US to “expand efforts to strengthen the AFP by prioritizing the transfer of critical military equipment through Excess Defense Articles (EDA) and highly subsidized sales” and “lead minilateral efforts with close security allies and partners – such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom and Israel – to coordinate broader assistance for Philippine military development.”
It was unfortunate that Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun was absent from the Shangri-La Dialogue, as it is a valuable platform for exchanging perspectives. As Singapore’s Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said, Minister Dong’s presence would avoid misunderstandings.
“It is only through dialogues that we can have this clarity of one another’s intention, and that is very useful,” Minister Chan stated.
We hope to have a profound and meaningful discussion with Chinese officials in the near future, with incoming Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro playing a key role. Tess has been at the forefront of negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to prevent a major conflict in disputed maritime territories, and led negotiations for a landmark agreement signed with China in July 2024 honoring a provisional arrangement for the unhampered delivery of supplies to Philippine forces stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
Let’s hope our politicians will recognize the serious challenges we face in the geopolitical sphere and take the necessary steps for the survival of our country. Let’s set aside our personal agendas and consider the country’s best interests first.
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