Gibo: Be wary of foreign interference in domestic affairs

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MANILA, Philippines — Member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should be wary of attempts by external powers to use legal and legitimate socioeconomic endeavors to interfere in their respective domestic affairs, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said.

He raised the warning in a speech at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) 2025 Retreat in Penang, Malaysia last week, during which he also urged his counterparts to work more vigorously in boosting the regional bloc’s unity as he warned that a divided ASEAN risks weakening its ability to deal with growing security challenges in the region.

“We should resist coercion in whatever form, and exchange information on foreign activities that are inimical to our national interests,” Teodoro said.

He also urged ASEAN to build trust among its militaries by expanding joint patrols, exercises and intelligence-sharing.

Teodoro met with Malaysian defense chief Mohamed Khaled Nordin on the sidelines of the ADMM Retreat to discuss key defense issues as well as ways to enhance security cooperation between the two nations.

In Manila, the Philippine Army (PA) hosted a meeting over the weekend with senior military leaders from the US, Japan and Australia where they discussed ways to further improve collective defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific Region.

The CORE 4 Technical Working Group Two-Star Level Meeting was held at the Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City from March 1 to 2.

Present at the meeting were Brig. Gen. Dean Thompson (Australia), Maj. Gen. Scott Winter (US), Col. Christopher Winn (US), Maj. Gen. Norimichi Shirakawa (Japan), Brig. Gen. Vicente MAP Blanco III (deputy commandant, Philippine Marine Corps) and Maj. Gen. Leodevic Guinid (PA vice commander).

Meanwhile, a security analyst yesterday underscored the need for the Philippines to diversify its defense partnerships and push for self-reliance in light of a marked shift in US foreign policy under the Trump administration.

“We have to think of our independent foreign policy and self-reliance… One way of improving our defense posture is through defense partnerships,” Chester Cabalza, founding president of the International Development and Security Cooperation, told “Storycon” on One News.

“We don’t want… that we are forever dependent on them (US),” he added in a mix of English and Filipino.

Cabalza was reacting to the recent verbal clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting at the White House.

“It seems as if the US is trying to take back everything it gave to Ukraine. We don’t want that to happen in the Philippines, that one day we wake up and the US will charge us for everything it gave us,” he added.

Cabalza acknowledged that US officials under Trump recently offered their “iron-clad commitment” to support the Philippines against possible foreign aggression. “But let us not rely so much on that,” he stressed.

Trump, he noted, is pursuing a more positive relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Cabalza said this could have an impact on the region in the coming years, especially once the Philippines takes over the rotational chairmanship of ASEAN next year.

“We will lobby again for maritime security,” he said. “If China and the US have good relations, then Trump may side with Xi Jinping.”