Teodoro: China could exploit US-SK exercise cuts to assert itself

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. warned that recent cuts to US-South Korean military exercises could be seen by China as an opportunity to reassert itself in the Indo-Pacific. However, he added that Washington had assured Manila that its commitments to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty remained unchanged. Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue, Teodoro said there had been no reduction in US-Philippine military activities and that bilateral and multilateral cooperation involving Manila continued to expand. The decision by former US President Donald Trump to scale back military exercises with South Korea has prompted debate among security analysts over the credibility of US deterrence in Asia and whether rivals such as China could perceive a weakening of US resolve. Teodoro pointed out that China is "very quick to exploit gaps," and stated that the reduction in US-South Korean exercises "may signal some opportunity for China to reassert itself" in the Indo-Pacific as a whole. However, he emphasized that Manila had received "definite assurances" from Washington and that there was "no indication" that the changes in South Korea would affect commitments under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has deepened defense cooperation with the United States, with expanded joint exercises and greater access for US forces to Philippine military facilities amid intensifying tensions with China in the South China Sea. According to Teodoro, the Philippines is also broadening its security ties with other partners, having concluded agreements with Canada and New Zealand, signed a visiting forces agreement with France, and negotiating a similar pact with Britain. Furthermore, the defense chief accused China of increasingly relying on influence operations alongside military and maritime pressure. He noted that China is "taking advantage of democratic space in order to co-opt people and to use a free media to expand its distortive narratives," and that the Philippines is pursuing stronger espionage and foreign influence legislation to counter such activities. Regarding President Marcos' recent remarks about progress toward possible joint oil and gas exploration talks with China, Teodoro struck a cautious note, stating it would be "doubtful" that any economic cooperation could be insulated from longstanding sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea. Teodoro was in Seoul for talks aimed at expanding defense cooperation with South Korea, one of the Philippines' largest arms suppliers. South Korea has supplied the Philippines with FA-50 light combat aircraft, frigates, and other military equipment, supporting the modernization of the Philippine armed forces. The defense secretary indicated that the submarine acquisition program, citing issues with mission requirements and infrastructure needs, was still some way off from realization. The secretary expressed his belief that concerns over China's actions are encouraging closer security cooperation among regional countries, potentially leading to a more interconnected Indo-Pacific security network. Source: Rappler Philippines