Philippines warns China may exploit cuts to US-South Korea drills
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has warned that China could try to take advantage of recent cuts to joint US-South Korea military drills to reassert itself in the Asia-Pacific. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue, an annual multilateral security forum, where he was asked about the regional implications of the reduced exercises. Teodoro said Beijing is "very quick to exploit gaps" and argued that any perceived opening could affect the wider security environment.
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Teodoro also said Washington had given Manila "definite assurances" that US commitments to the Philippines remain unchanged. His comments come as South Korea and the United States shortened their annual joint drills and scaled back field training exercises last month after President Donald Trump ordered a "substantial reduction" in the war games. The US-led Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises ended six days earlier than originally planned, marking a notable change in the scale and timing of the long-running drills.
The reduction has drawn attention because the exercises are part of a broader network of allied military activity in East Asia intended to deter threats and reassure partners. Teodoro accused China of exploiting democratic systems to spread "distortive narratives", suggesting that information pressure is part of the same strategic competition. The warning also reflects Manila's concern that any weakening of allied signalling could create space for more assertive behaviour in the region.
The issue matters beyond the drills themselves because the United States, South Korea and the Philippines are all navigating a period of heightened regional tension. The Philippines has been seeking clear reassurance from Washington while watching how changes in allied posture elsewhere may affect the balance of power. At the same time, South Korea's military has said the separate Freedom Edge exercise, due to begin on Monday, is defensive in nature and aimed at responding to North Korean nuclear and missile threats as well as promoting regional peace and stability.
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The broader backdrop includes Trump's explanation that he ordered the reduction because of his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and because of Seoul's refusal to join the US and Israel's war on Iran at the time. Trump has also said he planned to meet Kim later this year, while Kim Yo Jong later denied any ongoing communication between the two leaders and said Washington continues to pursue a "hostile" policy. South Korea's presidential office has separately said it was considering contributions to US freedom of navigation efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, before clarifying that no decision had been made.
What remains unclear is whether the reduced drills will lead to any lasting change in allied deterrence or in China's regional calculations. It is also not yet clear how the planned Freedom Edge exercise will affect the wider security picture in the coming days. For now, the immediate focus is on whether Washington's assurances to Manila are enough to offset concerns created by the cut in US-South Korea military activity.
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