China & Gilbert Teodoro

China: China routinely criticizes joint military exercises by the Philippines and its allies, viewing Taiwan as its territory and expressing concerns about heightened regional tensions.

Gilbert Teodoro: Gilbert Teodoro, Philippine Defense Secretary, witnessed the live missile firing and expressed pride in the successful execution of the exercise.

China: China views Taiwan as its territory and routinely criticizes the deployment of United States weapons in the Philippines, seeing it as an encirclement effort. China has intensified its military activities in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, increasing regional tensions.

Gilbert Teodoro: Gilbert Teodoro, the Philippine Defense Secretary, confirmed that Manila has a contingency plan for evacuating Filipinos from Taiwan if a conflict erupts, highlighting the nation's preparedness for potential regional instability.