Teodoro says China could exploit cuts in US-South Korean exercises

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. warned that China might take advantage of reduced U.S.-South Korean military exercises to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue on September 7, Teodoro said that while the U.S. had assured Manila that its commitments to the Philippines remained unchanged, the scaling back of U.S.-South Korean military activities could create opportunities for China to assert itself more strongly in the region. Teodoro emphasized that there had been no reduction in U.S.-Philippine military activities and that both bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation involving the Philippines continued to expand. He noted that the U.S. had provided "definite assurances" to Manila regarding its security commitments, adding that there was "no indication" that changes in South Korea would impact these obligations under the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. The reduction in U.S.-South Korean military exercises followed a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to scale back the drills last month. This move sparked discussions among security analysts about the implications for U.S. deterrence in Asia and whether regional competitors like China might interpret it as a sign of weakened American resolve. Teodoro acknowledged that China was likely to take advantage of any perceived weaknesses in U.S. alliances. "It is a possibility, of course. China is very quick to exploit gaps," he said when asked directly if Beijing could benefit from the situation. "If we're talking about the Indo-Pacific as a whole, then it may signal some opportunity for China to reassert itself," Teodoro added. Despite these concerns, the Philippines has continued to strengthen its defense partnerships with the U.S. and other nations. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Manila has pursued deeper military cooperation with the U.S., including expanded joint exercises and increased access for U.S. forces to Philippine military installations. These efforts have intensified as tensions with China have grown, particularly in the South China Sea. In addition to the U.S., the Philippines has been working to broaden its security relationships with other countries. Recent agreements include collaborations with Canada and New Zealand, a visiting forces agreement with France, and ongoing negotiations for a similar arrangement with Britain. Teodoro also criticized China for using influence operations alongside military and maritime pressure to advance its interests. He claimed that China exploits democratic spaces to co-opt individuals and uses free media to spread misleading narratives. As a response, the Philippines is pushing forward with legislation aimed at countering foreign influence and espionage. When questioned about potential economic cooperation with China, such as joint oil and gas exploration talks mentioned by President Marcos, Teodoro expressed skepticism. He suggested that any such collaboration would likely be affected by existing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Teodoro's statements. During his visit to Seoul, Teodoro participated in discussions focused on enhancing defense cooperation with South Korea. His comments reflect broader concerns within the Philippines about maintaining robust security ties amid shifting dynamics in the region.