I recently had the privilege of conducting an exclusive, in-person interview with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro in Manila for the Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific? podcast. This conversation provided fascinating insights into the Philippines' rapidly evolving defense strategy and its broader implications for regional and global security.

The Global Stakes of Philippine Defense

Secretary Teodoro's provided a clear articulation of why Philippine sovereignty matters beyond its maritime borders: "If we are to preserve an international order, imperfect as it is, then we should care if anyone's country, no matter how small, is violated." 

This perspective underscores a fundamental truth SeaLight has also observed through our maritime transparency work--sovereign rights violations anywhere threaten the stability of the entire international system, and few places on earth are more routinely violated than the West Philippine Sea.

The Secretary's analysis of China's strategic approach was particularly illuminating for our work. He noted that Beijing is focused on weakening the alliance structure between the United States and its partners. This isn't just about territorial and maritime disputes—it's about testing the resilience of the entire rules-based international order.

A Shift in Defense Philosophy

One of the most significant insights from the interview was Secretary Teodoro's explanation of the Philippines' recent strategic pivot in which it has moved away from its traditional post-invasion land defense model toward its new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept. This represents a fundamental shift in thinking that recognizes how crucial maritime issues have become across the globe, but especially for an island nation like the Philippines.

I found the Secretary's acknowledgment that modern conflicts begin long before the shooting starts--with information warfare, cyber attacks and hybrid operations--particularly astute. It's essentially an acknowledgement that a broad-based gray zone war is already underway, and the world has been way too slow to recognize its peril. The Philippines has much to teach us in this regard.

Building a Coalition of the Concerned

The Secretary also highlighted how an ever-increasing number of nations support the Philippines' stand, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and a host of European countries. This coalition is rapidly recognizing how it faces similar challenges from Chinese gray zone aggression.

This international backing is crucial. It demonstrates that the Philippines isn't standing alone against Chinese assertiveness, but rather represents the front line of a broad, insidious threat to maritime law and long-established national sovereignty norms and principles that have upheld international peace and security for decades.

The Information Warfare Dimension

What particularly resonated with us at SeaLight was Secretary Teodoro's recognition that information warfare precedes physical conflict. Through our maritime intelligence work, we've had personal experience in how China uses disinformation campaigns to shape its narratives around its South China Sea activities. The Secretary's acknowledgment of this reality shows a sophisticated understanding of modern conflict dynamics that aligns with our counter-disinformation efforts.

His insight that China's approach appears focused on weakening alliances reflects patterns we've observed across the region through our monitoring work. Beijing's strategy isn't just about territorial control—it's about fracturing the alliance networks that have maintained regional stability for decades.

Looking Forward

This interview reinforced SeaLight's conviction that the Philippines represents a critical test case for the international community's commitment to the rules-based order. Secretary Teodoro's strategic vision—combining credible deterrence with diplomatic engagement while building multilateral partnerships—offers a model for other nations facing similar challenges.

As we continue our work documenting Chinese gray zone activities and providing maritime intelligence to the public, conversations like this remind us why transparency and accurate information are so vital to defeating gray zone aggression. The Philippines' willingness to stand up in the face of incredible pressure by a rising great power demonstrates the kind of leadership the region needs and that SeaLight works to support through our research and advocacy.

The stakes couldn't be higher. As Secretary Teodoro noted, defending the Philippines matters globally because it's about preserving an international system where might doesn't make right, regardless of a country's size. That's a principle worth defending, and it's exactly why SeaLight exists to monitor, analyze and "Light Up the Maritime Gray Zone".

Watch the entire interview on YouTube, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts!

Finally, just for a little extra fun here's my recent chat with the ladies of The Big Story, in which we talked about the Gibo interview and Beijing's information operations in the Philippines.