Philippines Defense Secretary Teodoro challenges China in Seoul

During the Seoul Defense Dialogue 2026 in South Korea, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. publicly confronted a Chinese official's note regarding maritime claims. The note asserted that Beijing does not recognize the 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. Teodoro responded by stating, “China neither recognizes nor accepts the award. Of course, because you lost,” and characterized the delivery of the note as an act of coercion and bullying.

In a separate analysis, geopolitical analyst Anna Malindog Uy warned that China could cripple the Philippine economy without using military force. Uy highlighted the country's vulnerability due to its reliance on Chinese trade, noting that if China were to prohibit the export of refined fuel—which accounts for 40 percent of Philippine fuel needs—the nation would face severe trouble.

Uy also questioned the practicality of Defense Secretary Teodoro’s previous calls for Filipino businesses to diversify their markets away from China. She argued that finding alternative trading partners is difficult due to intense competition among ASEAN nations for access to the Chinese market.