Teodoro at Shangri-La: Philippines a point of convergence in ‘fragmented world’

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Sunday, May 31, presented the Philippines as a point of convergence in an increasingly fragmented Indo-Pacific during the final panel of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s premier defense summit. The annual conference brings together defense ministers, military leaders, policymakers, and security experts from across the region and beyond to discuss pressing security challenges and geopolitical developments.

During his remarks, Teodoro also criticized China for refusing to recognize the 2016 Arbitral Award and raised concerns over alleged espionage and influence activities in the Philippines and other countries.

China was only represented this year at the summit by a delegation of military officers and scholars, instead of high-level defense officials. – Bea Cupin/Rappler.com