DND Secretary Teodoro Calls for National Unity Amid Rising Maritime Threats
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has reinforced the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to international law and the preservation of national sovereignty during the conclusion of the two-day National West Philippine Sea (WPS) Summit in Pasay City. Held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award, the summit served as a critical platform for formalizing the nation’s stance on maritime rights. Secretary Teodoro utilized the high-profile gathering to urge the public to view the protection of the West Philippine Sea not merely as a government task, but as an essential personal responsibility to be embedded deep within the Filipino national consciousness.
At the heart of the Defense Chief’s message was a stern warning against the escalating spread of disinformation originating from Chinese academic circles. Secretary Teodoro explicitly denounced recent claims by Chinese scholars asserting that Batanes belongs to China, categorizing such statements as “outlandish narratives” and “historical disinformation.” He argued that these fabrications are the product of a state-controlled society, asserting that they are not academic inquiries but calculated signaling by Beijing. Teodoro warned that such rhetoric is evidence of a broader, deeper strategic ambition by the Chinese Communist Party to exert control over the entire Pacific Ocean.
To counter these external pressures, the Secretary argued that the most effective defense begins with radical transparency and public awareness. He emphasized that every Filipino citizen—referred to as the common “Juan and Juana de la Cruz”—must possess a granular understanding of the country’s claims over the West Philippine Sea, the Kalayaan Island Group, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the extended continental shelf. According to Teodoro, this knowledge must be cascaded throughout the entirety of the populace so that maritime sovereignty evolves from a policy debate into an intrinsic part of the collective Filipino psyche.
Moving beyond simple awareness, Secretary Teodoro proposed a deeper emotional and civic engagement with the concept of ownership. He suggested that Filipinos should “embrace” their maritime domain with the same protective, nurturing instinct a parent has for a child. By framing the duty toward the seas as an act of stewardship rather than simple possession, the Secretary argued that citizens would be more likely to see the long-term value of these territories. This emotional investment, he believes, is the only way to ensure that these resources are responsibly preserved and nurtured for the benefit of future generations who will eventually inherit the ocean’s wealth.
The summit also served as a clarion call for the importance of long-term sustainability and the need for significant national investment. Secretary Teodoro stressed that protecting these maritime boundaries requires the country to make major, proactive commitments that go beyond the current administration’s horizon. It is a generational effort that necessitates consistent funding and strategic planning to ensure that the Philippines fulfills its role as a responsible steward of its maritime domain. By elevating the discourse around the WPS, the Defense Chief hopes to secure the political and budgetary support required for such a monumental task.
In concluding the summit, Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines does not stand alone in its pursuit of a rules-based international order. He highlighted the urgent need for sustained cooperation among like-minded nations to effectively address common security challenges and deter unilateral aggression. By positioning the Philippines as a hub for regional stability and collective action, the Secretary issued an open invitation to international allies—whom he termed “co-actors” and “co-investors”—to join in resisting any attempts to reshape the international order for the selfish, regional interests of a single dominant power.