Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. speaks to reporters in Gamu, Isabela during his visit in one of the Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement sites on August 15. John Eric Mendoza/蜜桃工作室
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� China鈥檚 鈥渆xpansionist policy鈥� escalates the maritime tension in the West Philippine Sea and not the United States鈥� presence in the region, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Thursday.
鈥淚n terms of the Philippines, I respectfully disagree,鈥� Teodoro said over ANC when asked to comment on concerns that the US presence escalates regional tensions.
鈥淚t is the expansionist policy of China that is escalating the tensions not only between us but between Vietnam and other actors,鈥� he added.
This is evident with China鈥檚 new 鈥�10-dash line鈥�, according to Teodoro.
鈥淭heir 10-dash line actually is the best proof that they want to escalate the tensions within the area, because now even Brunei is even affected, India is now affected, Nepal,鈥� the official said, referring to the countries which protested the new demarcation released by China last month.
READ: China should 鈥榓ct responsibly鈥�: DFA junks Beijing鈥檚 鈥�10-dash line鈥� map
Teodoro made the reaction in view of Senator Robin Padilla鈥檚 concern about the presence of US Navy aircraft in the latest resupply mission in the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
READ: Padilla to PCG: Can you resupply BRP Sierra Madre sans US help?
But Teodoro pointed out that the aircraft flew in international air space.
鈥淭hat is an international airspace, there is a freedom of navigation and overflight over international airspace, notwithstanding Ayungin in a Philippine territory,鈥� Teodoro said.
搁贰础顿:听Ayungin mission: Tension, tedium 鈥� and a 鈥榢akampi鈥�
However, the top defense official also stressed that the country聽needs to cooperate not only with the US but other 鈥渃oalition of like-minded countries鈥� like Japan, South Korea, Australia and even the Asean countries.