The way India stood up to Chinese aggression in Eastern Ladakh has been a very useful learning experience for us, says Philippines’ Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro.
“There can be no soft power without hard power. Appeasement only breeds more hunger,” he told StratNews Global.
If India and China have an un-demarcated land boundary, the Philippines has territorial disputes with China in the maritime domain. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines, saying some Chinese actions in the South China Sea are illegal. China rejected the tribunal’s decision.
Chinese Aggression
“China has been very aggressive in denying the Philippines access to certain areas of what we call the West Philippine Sea. We see ourselves, contrary to China’s narrative, as a target of China’s desire for dominance, for hegemony per se,” said Teodoro.
Hailing freedom of speech and that of the Press in India and the Philippines, he added that “our articulation of issues is not artificial, not contrived or state-controlled”. China’s articulation of the issue caters to its home audience, so it does not gain them any adherence in the international sphere, he added.
China’s Deficit Of Credibility
According to him, the basic stumbling block to fair and structured dispute resolution with China is the latter’s deficit of credibility and trust. “That’s true not only in the Indo-Pacific area but also in the Baltics, in Europe and in Africa. China cannot buy its way everywhere. Principles matter.”
Teodoro is part of the delegation accompanying Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who is currently on a state visit to India. The visit began on a day the Indian and Philippine navies concluded their first joint maritime drills in the South China Sea. Yesterday, both countries elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership.
The BrahMos Experience
In 2022, the Philippines became the first buyer of BrahMos, India’s supersonic cruise missile. It has been a very enlightening experience for us, and it is part of our military deterrence, said Teodoro. So will there be follow-on orders? “We will continue to advance discussions on how we can envelop the partnership on a sustainable basis.”
