The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday, Dec. 31, expressed deep concern over China’s recent military exercises around Taiwan, saying it could aggravate tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

DND Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said Beijing’s actions risk undermining regional peace and stability at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.

“This heightened scale of coercion has implications that extend beyond cross-Strait relations and into the broader Indo-Pacific community,” he said.

The defense chief emphasized that basic principles of self-restraint must be observed.

He also warned against the distortion of international law to justify actions that raise tensions and erode trust among states.

The Philippines, he said, continues to underscore the importance of upholding international law and established regional norms including the peaceful management of disputes and respect for rules-based mechanisms.

“We reaffirm our support for a free, open, stable, and rules-based Indo Pacific, where differences are resolved through peaceful means without deception, coercion, or intimidation,” Teodoro said.

China’s military has been conducting military exercises around Taiwan dubbed as “Justice Mission 2025,” involving the firing of rockets and deployment of massive number of warships and aircraft near the self-ruled island.

The drills stem from China’s long-standing claim that Taiwan is part of its territory but Taipei rejects such claim.

China reportedly has not ruled out the use of force to achieve what it calls “reunification” with Taiwan, which many American defense and security experts believe could happen in 2027, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

As of Wednesday, reports said that the Chinese ships have started withdrawing from Taiwan.

Brawner had said that the Northern Luzon Command will be tasked to lead the rescue and repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Taiwan should such scenario occur. According to government estimates, there are around 250,000 OFWs in Taiwan.

Manila has a long-standing territorial row with Beijing as the latter claims the majority of the South China Sea, including parts within the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or the sea located in the western portion of the country within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

A 2016 arbitral award rejected China’s expansionist claims in the South China Sea in favor of the Philippines’ protest but the Asian superpower ignored the ruling and continues to assert its presence in the disputed waters.