'China has a lot of trust building to do', says Teodoro in security summit

Philippines Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro said China has a deficit of trust, which is the biggest stumbling block to dispute resolution or dialogue in the region, during a plenary session on the last day of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit on Sunday (June 1).

"For dialogue to be effective, it must be coupled with trust. And China has a lot of trust building to do to be an effective negotiating partner in disputed settlements. We have to call a spade a spade, and that's what we see," said Teodoro.

Teodoro also emphasized the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea is not a function of Sino-American strategic rivalry, but instead, was caused by the overreach of China.

"The most glaring evidence is the nine, 10 or 11 dash line that has absolutely no basis in international law," he added.

Teodoro: China needs to overcome 'deficit of trust'

China and the Philippines contest sovereignty over some islands and atolls in the South China Sea, with growing maritime run-ins between their coast guards as both vie to patrol the waters.

China's Defense Minister Dong Jun has decided to skip the major Asian security forum and Beijing has sent only an academic delegation.

The summit, which attracts top defense officials, senior military officers, diplomats, weapons makers and security analysts from around the globe, is taking place from Friday (May 30) to Sunday (June 1) in Singapore.

(Production: Zahra Matarani, Lion Schellerer, Shung Sin Tan)