The Philippines’ defense chief, Gilberto Teodoro, has called for stronger international action against China’s aggressive maneuvers in the disputed South China Sea, a region fraught with geopolitical tensions. Speaking at a conference organized by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Tuesday, Teodoro did not mince words in describing China’s role in the region’s instability.
“China is the biggest disrupter of international peace in the ASEAN region,” Teodoro stated, referring to the Association of South-East Asian Nations. His remarks underscore the growing concern among Southeast Asian nations and their allies over China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea, where several countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, have overlapping territorial claims.
Teodoro called for a “stronger collective multilateral action against China,” suggesting that a united front is essential to counter Beijing’s increasing dominance in the region. He proposed that one of the most significant steps the international community could take is the adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning China’s actions and ordering it to cease its aggressive behavior. However, Teodoro acknowledged the challenges in achieving such a resolution, noting, “The world is not perfect,” a clear reference to the geopolitical complexities and the influence of China as a permanent member of the Security Council.
His comments came in the wake of a series of aggressive acts by Chinese forces in the South China Sea. On Sunday, Chinese coastguard ships reportedly rammed and fired water cannons at a Philippine vessel delivering essential supplies, including fuel, food, and medical aid, to fishermen operating between Half-Moon Shoal and Sabina Shoal. The “perilous maneuvers” caused engine failure, forcing the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to abort its humanitarian mission, according to a statement by the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.
Just days before, on Thursday, a Chinese fighter jet fired flares at a Philippine aircraft conducting a routine patrol near Subi Reef, marking the second such incident in as many weeks. These provocative actions have heightened tensions in the already volatile region, with the Philippines and its regional partners increasingly concerned about China’s disregard for international norms and the 2016 ruling by an international arbitration court. The ruling invalidated China’s expansive claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, asserting that it had no legal or historical basis for such claims.
Despite the court’s decision, China has continued to assert its dominance over the South China Sea, constructing artificial islands, deploying military assets, and engaging in activities that have alarmed its neighbors and the broader international community. The region, believed to be rich in natural resources, including oil and gas reserves, has become a focal point of strategic competition, with the United States and other nations expressing their support for freedom of navigation and overflight in these contested waters.
