‘It’s a sovereign right’: Teodoro says no ASEAN concern over PH defense buildup

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. defended the Philippines’ military buildup and expanding defense partnerships, saying these are the country’s sovereign right amid growing security challenges in the region.

Teodoro made the statement when asked about concerns that the Philippines’ security arrangements with external partners, including its hosting of the US Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system, could undermine regional peace and the ASEAN security architecture.

The Philippine defense chief maintained that no ASEAN member state publicly expressed concern over the Philippines’ defense activities.

“First and foremost, if at all our regional partners, particularly ASEAN member states, have had concerns on Philippine activities, they would have made it known and known publicly. To date, there is no such contrary opinion,” he said during a press briefing on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu on Thursday.

Teodoro said that strengthening the country’s defense capabilities “is an internal question for the Philippines.” But even as the Philippines is “committed to its own defense”, it has still followed the 2016 Arbitral Award and other legal processes. 

“So, the Philippines has proven, in actions and not words, its commitment to peace and security,” he said. 

Teodoro pointed out that the Philippines has followed legal processes in asserting its maritime rights, while China continues to pursue unilateral claims over Philippine maritime areas.

He said the Philippines has the right to resist such actions, adding that other ASEAN countries would likely do the same if subjected to similar circumstances.

“We cannot deny the unilateral and illegal claims made by China on the Philippines’ maritime domain. And if other ASEAN countries were subjected to the same kind of action in the magnitude the Philippines is experiencing, I am sure that they would resist this to the best of their ability, and likewise, the Philippines would not fault them for it,” he said.

Teodoro emphasized that the country’s defense resilience, through ASEAN, treaty partners and like-minded countries, is a fundamental right.

“The Philippine defense position as regards ASEAN is that intra-ASEAN unity and solidarity is the prime goal of the ADMM, while for our external security, of which ASEAN is an integral component, the Philippines, given its location, as not only an ASEAN country but as a Pacific Island country by heritage and by location, should leverage all its defense relations in the face of a severe threat to its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Teodoro said.