Manila Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is scheduled to discuss the West Philippine Sea (WPS) conflict at the upcoming 21st edition of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
It is expected that Teodoro and other senior officials of the Philippines will meet with their counterparts in the said dialogue.
Teodoro is one of those who will accompany President Ferdinand Marcos who is also scheduled to give a speech at the start of the Defense Forum in Asia, which will take place from May 31 to June 2.
“The President is expected to discuss before the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue participants and audience, and the international community at large, the position of the Philippine government on various security, defense, and diplomatic challenges and concerns confronting the Philippines and the region,” said Teodoro in a statement.
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According to Teodoro, he said such dialogue serves as an important platform to discuss different positions on many issues, challenges and new concerns.
The secretary admitted that the tension between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea has continued to rise in recent months.
That includes dangerous maneuvers, water cannoning and military-grade laser at Philippine ships as part of the WPS.
And China’s latest unilateral fishing ban in the sea it continues to claim even though it has entered the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to file a diplomatic protest against illegal activities of China.