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DND chief sees more aggression from Chinese naval forces in WPS

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
May 9, 2025, 1:21 pm Updated on May 9, 2025, 1:47 pm

MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said he expects an increased aggression from Chinese maritime forces toward Filipino naval vessels patrolling Scarborough Shoal (also known as Bajo de Masinloc) and other parts of the West Philippine Sea.

"We have to expect more of the same," he said in an ambush interview shortly after the closing ceremonies of this year's "Balikatan" drills held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Friday.

The DND chief's remarks came following the May 5 incident where Chinese frigates and coast guard vessels conducted "aggressive and unsafe" actions against the offshore patrol vessel BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), which was then conducting a routine maritime patrol some 11.8 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc.

Teodoro, however, said Manila remains undeterred by these acts of Beijing, stressing that Filipino naval forces will continue patrolling the area as it is part of the country's jurisdiction.

"We have to expect those things to happen. Sinasabi ko kanina, there is a price to pay for freedom. Ngayon, ano ang price? Kung magdesisyon tayo na madali, appease, capitulate. Ngayon, kung tinatawag natin ang sarili natin na republika at makasarinlan , stand up, nasa stand up tayo, ang cost nun mangyayari to (Like what I said earlier, there is a price to pay (for) freedom. Now, what is the price, if we decide to do the easy part, we can appease and capitulate. Now, if we call ourselves a Republic and a sovereign one, we stand up, we are standing up right now)," the DND chief said.

"Sila (China) ba (ang) nagdidikta ng batas ng mundo? (Are they the ones dictating the laws for the whole world?)," he quipped.

Teodoro, however, refused to comment on whether the Philippine military will make adjustment amid China's actions, saying it is an operational matter.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año earlier said "security challenges" in the South China Sea are unlikely to be reduced anytime soon.

Año attributed the tensions to China's baseless, excessive, and expansive territorial claims, militarization, and confrontations with its neighbors, which he said cannot be disregarded. (PNA)