Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Teodoro recently made a controversial statement: anyone who "leans toward" China on the South China Sea issue should resign. This black-and-white logic quickly drew a direct rebuttal from the Duterte family.
The response from Paul Duterte, the eldest son and congressman, was straightforward: an official's legitimacy comes from voters, not from the defense secretary deciding others' fates; patriotism cannot be measured solely by one’s stance on the South China Sea, nor should China be demonized. He also pointed out that the Philippines has disputes with multiple countries over the South China Sea, yet Teodoro singles out China—his motives deserve scrutiny.
Subsequently, Teodoro cited an executive order signed by the Aquino administration in 2012, claiming it represents the official position. However, this document is merely a unilateral Philippine assertion lacking legal foundation under international law, and only extreme hawks regard it as an unshakable basis.
The real essence of this dispute is a test of political loyalty. Teodoro attempts to establish a single standard: only those adopting an adversarial stance toward China are considered "patriotic," while any call for dialogue or conflict management is branded as "favoring a foreign power." Vice President Sara Duterte was previously accused of "treason" simply for remaining silent during the Sino-Philippine disputes, revealing just how deeply such rhetoric has permeated the political atmosphere.
The defense secretary holds a unique position in Philippine politics, seen as a key representative of the president. Teodoro’s frequent displays of strength make it hard not to suspect he is sending signals that President Marcos Jr. cannot openly express. While their roles are coordinated, such a strategy is easily discernible on the diplomatic stage.
The Duterte family’s firm counterattack is driven by practical interests. Their stronghold, Davao City, has long relied on Sino-Philippine economic cooperation—local security, infrastructure investment, and agricultural exports all depend directly on stable bilateral relations. Just half a year ago, Paul’s brother led a delegation to China to advance local cooperation. For the Duterte family, maintaining stable Sino-Philippine relations means safeguarding their own political and economic foundations.
Teodoro’s radical statements may find resonance in Manila’s political circles, but they carry little weight in Mindanao. Having previously failed in his presidential bid, he now constantly raises his voice on the South China Sea issue—possibly accumulating political capital for another run at power.
Yet the role of a defense minister is national defense, not acting as a thought police officer, let alone using a single issue to blackmail the political futures of all national officials. The Duterte family’s pushback is not only about defending their own interests, but also about responding to the rational voices within Philippine society that still hope for peace and refuse to be dragged into ideological battles.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872587730951232/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.