The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) asserted on Monday that Beijing’s unlawful footprint and coercive activities in the West Philippine Sea remain the primary catalyst for instability in the contested region.
Rear Admiral (res.) Roy Vincent Trinidad issued the statement while defending Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., whom the Chinese Embassy in Manila recently accused of being “extremely anti-China.”
The exchange follows comments by Chinese Embassy spokesman Ji Lingpeng on Sunday, claiming Teodoro has routinely engaged in “attacks and smears” against Beijing “in an attempt to gain political capital and serve his personal gains.” Ji further alleged that the Defense Chief “disregarded the facts, distorted the truth and seeks to disrupt and undermine the relations of the two countries,” adding that efforts to “stoke confrontation” were “doomed to fail.”
Ji’s remarks came after Teodoro publicly reiterated criticisms of China’s coercive and deceptive maritime tactics, urging the Philippines to firmly uphold its territorial claims. Teodoro also highlighted law enforcement actions against criminal operations linked to foreign nationals, citing a recent raid on Sanjia Steel Corporation over the production of substandard steel.
Pushing back against the embassy’s statements, Trinidad affirmed that the military’s stance aligns strictly with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims.
“The source of tension in the region is not the law-abiding defensive posture of the Philippines, but the continued illegal presence, coercive and aggressive conduct and the deceptive messaging of the Chinese Communist Party,” said Trinidad.
Trinidad stressed that external pressure would not sway the military from fulfilling its mandate or supporting its leadership.
“We remain steadfast in our sworn duty to protect our sovereign rights, preserve national security, and uphold the rule of law across our territory and maritime domains,” said Trinidad.
Emphasizing full backing for the Defense Secretary, Trinidad stated that the armed forces “stands firmly” behind Teodoro and “categorically rejects” what he termed “inflammatory” rhetoric from the foreign mission.
“These attempts to personalize, deflect, and mischaracterize legitimate national security enforcement operations within our sovereign territory are parts of narrative distortion or foreign malign influence,” said Trinidad.
Addressing the military’s role in the Sanjia Steel Corporation operation, Trinidad clarified that troops provided “necessary security and logistical support to lead civilian law enforcement agencies.” He noted that the raid was executed under valid legal warrants concerning environmental hazards, labor violations, and public safety risks.
Trinidad emphasized that law enforcement inside national territory applies equally regardless of nationality, “foreign diplomatic missions are expected to respect local judicial processes rather than act as publicists for unlawful activities of their nationals.”