Business · Philippines Bureau
Pro-China officials, trolls embolden Beijing in West Philippine Sea
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has warned that Philippine officials and online supporters of China may be inadvertently encouraging Beijing to take more aggressive actions in the disputed West Philippine Sea. The caution came during Monday's budget hearing for the Department of National Defense.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro raised concerns Monday that pro-China sentiment among some Philippine officials and coordinated online activity could be emboldening Beijing to pursue more daring provocations in the West Philippine Sea, where maritime tensions have escalated in recent months.
Tedoro made the remarks during a Department of National Defense budget hearing, suggesting that internal support for Chinese positions may signal weakness to Beijing and encourage further assertive behavior in disputed waters.
The warning reflects growing Philippine concerns over China's maritime activities and the potential domestic factors that could influence Beijing's strategic calculus. Philippine officials have increasingly called attention to what they characterize as coordinated online campaigns defending Chinese actions in the region.
The issue comes amid broader tensions over competing territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea, where the Philippines has sought to assert its maritime rights while maintaining diplomatic channels with China.