Camille Naredo

The Commission on Appointments confirms the selection of Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense in Pasay City on September 13, 2023.

The Commission on Appointments confirms the selection of Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense in Pasay City on September 13, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CA confirms Teodoro Appointment

Reuters Wires

<p>The Philippines remains under &quot;severe threat&quot; from China, its defense minister said on Saturday, despite some easing of tensions between Beijing and Washington after the summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping earlier this month.</p><p>Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in an interview with Reuters that it was natural for countries like the U.S. and China to try to dial down tensions.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/marcos-sees-trump-xi-meeting-as-encouraging-sign-for-the-rest-of-the-world-1000">READ: Marcos sees Trump-Xi meeting as ‘encouraging sign for the rest of the world’</a></div><p>&quot;For countries like the Philippines, though, which is under severe threat -- territory wise and politically too by China, we have no choice but really to be resilient and to stand up against Chinese aggression.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines, which has a mutual defense treaty with the U.S., and China have been locked in a series of maritime confrontations in the South China Sea in recent years, which Beijing claims almost entirely as its own despite a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated those claims.</p><p>Teodoro, speaking on the sidelines of the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/30/teodoro-meets-us-hegseth-at-shangri-la-dialogue-in-singapore-1619">Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore</a>, Asia&#x27;s biggest defense forum, said there was no sense that the U.S. commitment to the Philippines was being affected by the Trump-Xi summit or the war in the Middle East.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/31/ph-us-defense-chiefs-reiterate-commitment-to-military-alliance-1002">READ: PH, US defense chiefs reiterate commitment to military alliance</a></div><p>Media reports have said Teodoro is also a possible candidate to contest the Philippines&#x27; 2028 presidential election when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s term ends.</p><p>Teodoro said he had no plans to do so.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s best to let things evolve as they are. So, it&#x27;s best for me, for my duty to my country, to stick with what I&#x27;m doing.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>(Production: Minh Nguyen)</strong></div>

<p>The Philippines remains under "severe threat" from China, its defense minister said on Saturday, despite some easing of tensions between Beijing and Washington after the summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping earlier this month.</p>

The Philippines remains under "severe threat" from China, its defense minister said on Saturday, despite some easing of tensions between Beijing and Washington after the summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping earlier this month.

PH remains under threat from China despite Trump-Xi summit, says Teodoro

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PH remains under threat from China despite Trump-Xi summit, says Teodoro

Reuters

Published May 31, 2026 10:31 PM PHT

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China

Philippines

Donald Trump

Xi Jinping

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