What Happened
Defence Secretary Calls for Strengthened Alliances Beyond Regional Bloc
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has stated that the country needs more than its ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for national security. Teodoro emphasized the importance of modernization and interoperability, citing the need for a mix of deterrence. This comes after a recent survey showed that more Filipinos prefer modernizing the country’s armed forces and coast guard over forging new military partnerships. The comments were reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.