{
  "id": 16832909,
  "title": "Manila speaks with 2 voices on China",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/manila-speaks-with-2-voices-on-china-16832909",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-28T01:30:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3372147/manila-speaks-2-voices-china"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 13, the Philippine government sent two contradictory messages to China. At Malacanang Palace, a presidential spokeswoman declared Manila's commitment to maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with Beijing, stating \"China needs the Philippines, and the Philippines needs China.\" That same day, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. opposed any military-to-military communication with China, a stance backed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Teodoro argued that proper communication should flow through the Department of Foreign Affairs, not the defense department. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended the conflicting messages, asserting that both the diplomatic and defense arms of his administration are working towards the same goal through different methods. This inconsistency raises questions about the administration's coherence. While the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) seeks a constructive approach to China, the defense establishment takes a tougher stance. This division was evident after Ambassador Jing Quan suggested China \"could easily win\" if it used force against the Philippines. In response, Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro expressed serious concern and strong objection, urging continued dialogue through diplomatic channels. However, Teodoro has shown little interest in direct engagement with Beijing. The defense secretary, sanctioned by China in June, has claimed government officials supporting China in border disputes should resign. Additionally, the armed forces accuse China of using bilateral communication channels to cover its activities in disputed waters. These issues extend beyond rhetoric, as two maritime agreements aimed at managing tensions with China have led to conflicting public accounts. Reports of a bilateral coastguard cooperation agreement emerged in October 2025, with the Philippine Coast Guard spokesman claiming the agreement was near completion. However, after Jing's claim in March, the Coast Guard distanced itself from the deal, denying involvement in drafting it. The DFA later clarified that joint patrols were not under discussion, and the coastguard was informed and involved in the talks. Another disagreement arose over a provisional understanding on rotation and resupply missions at the Second Thomas Shoal. Diplomats reached an agreement in July 2024, but Teodoro denied its existence two years later. The DFA stated that Lazaro's team drafted the agreement and received approval from then-National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano. These conflicting accounts suggest poor inter-agency coordination between Manila's diplomatic corps and maritime security establishment. Similar disagreements exist over other agreements, creating uncertainty about Manila's China policy. While both departments claim to follow Marcos's instructions, inconsistencies in their accounts erode the government's diplomatic credibility and complicate Beijing's efforts to manage the complex bilateral relationship.",
  "summary": "Manila sent two strikingly different messages to Beijing on October 13. At the Malacanang Palace, a presidential spokeswoman reaffirmed Manila’s commitment to sustaining diplomatic and economic ties with China, saying “China needs the Philippines, and the Philippines needs China”. That same day, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr rejected a call for military-to-military…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}