Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. rallied his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to unite in addressing security challenges confronting the Indo-Pacific region, saying that turning a blind eye on violations by a few states “diminishes” the union.

In his speech at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat in Penang, Malaysia on Wednesday, Feb. 26, Teodoro underscored the necessity for ASEAN to “remain cohesive and proactive” in upholding regional stability amid the shifting geopolitical landscape, sparked by the “actions of a few states” that are “reshaping global relations.” 

“ASEAN has ensured the longest period of peace in any region since World War II. However, this peace is now under threat—not due to our incapacity to preserve it, but because of the absence of unanimity on key issues,” he told counterparts from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor Leste.

“Silence in the face of violations diminishes ASEAN,” Teodoro remarked, echoing the statement made by President Marcos Jr. during the ASEAN retreat summit in Laos in October 2024, as he called for proactive measures in defending international law and norms.

Teodoro has been vocal about his criticisms of China’s aggression against Philippine vessels, aircraft, and even fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

At the gathering of Southeast Asia’s defense ministers, he once again took the opportunity to reaffirm the country’s long-standing commitment to regional peace as he pointed out the importance of articulating the realities of the current geopolitical environment to remain adaptive to rapid change and uncertainties.

According to Teodoro, the threats to the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Philippines in the WPS are not merely a domestic or regional concern but a global issue that impacts the stability of international systems.

“At the heart of this matter is the existential right of smaller states—ASEAN Member States in particular—to live in peace, secure their borders, and pursue their own destiny,” he said.

Teodoro urged ASEAN to strengthen operational cooperation by expanding joint patrols, exercises, and intelligence-sharing to build trust among regional defense forces. 

He shared the success of the Philippines’ trilateral cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia, saying that such collaborative efforts should be further developed to address pressing security concerns.

The three countries entered into a trilateral cooperative agreement in 2017 to ensure maritime security in their tri-border area, focusing on the Sulu and Celebes Seas, which are regions historically prone to piracy and kidnapping incidents. The partnership was renewed in 2023.

Teodoro also warned against external attempts to sow division within Southeast Asia, saying that ASEAN "must reject external influences that seek to fragment the region."

The Association, according to the defense chief, must remain steadfast in its commitment to independence and strategic autonomy.

“We should resist coercion in whatever form and exchange information on foreign activities that are inimical to our national interests, such as online scams, trafficking in persons, illegal migration, which destroy the fabric of our respective societies,” Teodoro said.

He also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to multilateralism, diplomacy, and the peaceful resolution of disputes following international law. 

He urged ASEAN members to “act decisively in preserving peace and stability,” emphasizing that ASEAN’s strength lies in its ability to cooperate, consult, and take collective action when necessary.

“We may not always agree, but the spirit of ASEAN compels us to cooperate where we can, consult where necessary, and act when we must,” he concluded.

No data breach

The DND also rejected reports that its systems were breached by a group of hackers, compromising state secrets and defense and military data.

"Contrary to a recent news report, the Department of National Defense has not monitored any data breach over the weekend, and its systems remain secure and fully functional," DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.

He said the defense department continues to implement its cybersecurity to prevent attempts by malign actors to illegally access its information and communications technology (ICT) systems and infrastructure.

The Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine Navy (PN) earlier disclosed that an investigation was conducted by the military to determine the suspects behind an attempt to illegally access its online platforms.

AFP rejects China's plea on Typhon withdrawal

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) turned down anew China's call to the Philippines to withdraw the Typhon mid-range capability (MRC).

"No particular entity or foreign nation can dictate how we will be fortifying our defenses," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.

This was her response to the Chinese state media's appeal to remove the Typhoon missile system from the country and return it to the United States. According to People's Daily, Manila has "repeatedly broken its promise" that it would return the missile system to the US.

"The region needs peace and prosperity, not intermediate range missiles and confrontation," the People's Daily, a Chinese state media, said in a new commentary Wednesday.

But the AFP spokesperson wasn't having it.

"As we strengthen our alliances with like-minded nations, we continue with our exercises with the well-meaning nations. All of these things are part of how we strengthen the defense capabilities of our nation," Padilla noted.

"With all the modern challenges that we're facing, we're looking at how we would counter and mitigate attacks to our sovereignty," she added.

In April 2024, the United States deployed the Typhon missile to northern Luzon for a joint military exercise with the AFP. Earlier this year, the missile system was transferred to another undisclosed location in the Philippines.

Philippine Army (PA) personnel were being trained how to use the Typhon as the military bared plans to acquire a similar capability to deter threats in the WPS.