AFP backs Gibo Teodoro amid Chinese Embassy's criticism of severed military dialogue

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday rallied behind Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. after a Chinese Embassy rant on the severed military dialogue between Manila and Beijing.

“The DND’s decision to suspend military-to-military communication channels with PRC, three (3) years ago, was based on experience and the consistent failure of these mechanisms to produce meaningful results amid continued provocative and irresponsible actions by their People’s Liberation Army and China Coast Guard,” the AFP said in a statement.

“Upholding the Constitution and safeguarding our sovereign rights is a duty incumbent upon every Filipino. United as one nation, the Filipino people and the AFP will continue to defend our territorial integrity,” the organization added.

In a statement on Monday, October 12, the Chinese Embassy accused Teodoro of suspending the military-to-military communication between China and Philippines for his “political self interests.”

“Everyone knows that no matter how difficult bilateral relations become, communication channels should remain open to avoid miscalculation and prevent tensions from escalating,” the embassy said.

“But Gibo Teodoro decided to shut down mil-mil communication between China and the Philippines for political self interests. His move fuels mistrust, narrows the space for crisis management, and pushes frontline personnel closer to confrontation,” it added.

In response, Teodoro noted that the said dialogue channel between Manila and Beijing was already suspended a long time ago.

“Here we go again… Military-to-military ties have long been suspended—for roughly three years now. They said this again because it's a desperate move on their part—because they were caught in their own 'foolishness’,” he said in Filipino in a Facebook post.

The Defense Dept. also reposted on Facebook the statement released in May 2024, noting the discontinuation of the communications between the department and the Chinese Embassy after Teodoro assumed office in July 2023. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA News