In a show of solidarity, a prominent House leader has thrown his full support behind Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s initiatives to strengthen the Philippines’ defense capabilities, despite criticism from China. Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, who leads the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and the Quad Committee, firmly stated that Beijing has no right to interfere in Manila’s internal affairs.
Barbers criticized China’s attempts to meddle in the Philippines’ efforts to enhance its military, including the acquisition of mid-range missiles and other armaments from the United States. He accused China of using ‘bullying tactics’ and urged Filipinos to unite in support of Teodoro’s stance against China’s overreach.
The lawmaker emphasized the need for national unity in resisting China’s selfish motives, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. He highlighted Teodoro’s assertion that the deployment of the US-made ‘Typhon’ Missile System during joint exercises is entirely legitimate and aligns with the Philippines’ independent foreign policy and national interest.
Barbers dismissed China’s warnings about potential geopolitical tensions and an arms race as baseless, pointing instead to Beijing’s own aggressive military expansion. He suggested that China’s objections to the Philippines’ military upgrades are driven by self-interest, possibly hoping to sell their own, potentially counterfeit, military equipment to the Philippines.