MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has decided to retain Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., a noted critic of China, amid a significant Cabinet reshuffle following the May 12 midterm elections. This move was confirmed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during a news conference held on Thursday.
Teodoro has consistently voiced strong criticisms of China’s increasingly assertive actions in the South China Sea, aligning closely with Marcos’ stance against China’s territorial claims. Bersamin noted that the decision to keep Teodoro reflects the president’s commitment to a robust response to geopolitical challenges in the region.
In addition to Teodoro's retention, Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III has been appointed as the new chief of the 232,000-member national police force. Torre is known for overseeing significant operations, including the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte in March, who faced international charges related to his controversial anti-drug campaign. Torre also led the arrest of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, indicating a focus on law enforcement in the Philippines.
President Marcos has requested all Cabinet members to submit their resignations as part of a "bold reset" of his administration in light of the recent elections, which saw an increase in opposition victories. This shakeup is seen as a response to the political landscape that has shifted since his election in 2022, where he achieved a landslide victory by promoting national unity, despite internal discord emerging with Vice President Sara Duterte.
Throughout his presidency, Marcos has cultivated strong relationships with allies, particularly the United States, positioning himself as a leading critic of China’s actions in the South China Sea. This stance is further characterized by ongoing domestic challenges, such as inflation and crime rates, alongside unfulfilled promises, notably regarding the reduction of rice prices.
Teodoro has previously articulated views on Chinese policies in the South China Sea, describing them as the greatest threat to Philippine national security. He argued that these aggressive postures posed significant risks not only regionally but also on a global scale, threatening vital trade routes. In his statements, he emphasized the importance of recognizing Chinese expansionism as an attempt to disrupt established international norms and reshape the global order.
Bersamin has not provided detailed explanations for each Cabinet change but highlighted that President Marcos is intolerant of underperformance. Among other changes, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo has been replaced by Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, who has actively managed diplomatic communications with China amidst rising tensions between Chinese and Philippine maritime forces.
The territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve several nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, alongside the Philippines and China. Despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China's extensive territorial claims based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China continues to assert sovereignty over the region, making it a focal point of geopolitical tension in Asia.
