SINGAPORE, 31 May 2026 – On the last day of the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) on 31 May 2026, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. joined North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Chair of Military Committee Admiral Guiseppe Cavo Dragone and Singapore Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing during the sixth and final Plenary Session to discuss the “𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝”.
In his remarks, Defense Secretary Teodoro highlighted the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award of the South China Sea on July this year which affirmed the fundamental principle that maritime entitlements are derived not from “historic rights” but from international law particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Defense Secretary Teodoro underscored the Philippines’ role as a hub for convergence among those committed to upholding international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. He stated that “our allies and partners—some with differences among themselves—have nonetheless found common ground in our waters.”
The Philippine Defense Minister reiterated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s keynote address in the 21st IISS SLD in 2024 that “In the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines is on the front lines of efforts to assert the integrity of UNCLOS as a Constitution of the Oceans”.
In the same spirit, Secretary Teodoro introduced the Philippines’ vision as an 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀, the idea developed by renowned Filipino expert on maritime law, Professor Jay Batumbakal. He further explained that these roles leverage the Philippines’ geography. “The Philippines is well-placed to safeguard maritime liberty and the legal and physical infrastructure that enables the world to sail, to trade, and to prosper,” he said.
Secretary Teodoro emphasized that “…as strategic sentinel, we will stand watch over our sovereign rights and entitlements. And as guardian of freedom of the seas, we will stand watch with the international community for this part of the world.”
Anchored on four key principles – sovereignty and territorial integrity, the international rule of law, ASEAN centrality, and deterrence – the concept envisions the Philippines as a convergence hub for like-minded countries in a fragmenting world.
In light of ongoing conflicts abroad, Defense Secretary Teodoro likewise emphasized the need for the international order to protect migrant workers from the Philippines, other Asian countries and smaller countries, “…not only because their rights and dignity must be upheld as a fundamental obligation of humankind, but also because their very services and sacrifice underpin the global economy and quality of life of the countries they serve and on the sea lanes they ply”, he concluded.
Watch the full remarks of the Philippine Defense Secretary here./END.
About Shangri-La Dialogue
The Shangri-La Dialogue is widely known as Asia’s premier defense summit. It exists to create opportunities for defense cooperation to find practical solutions to shared challenges across the region. This year’s iteration was participated by 2 heads of state, 39 government ministers, over 550 delegates, 40 Young Leaders and over 1,500 supporting officials from nearly 80 countries, including the Philippines, and translated into three packed days of defense diplomacy. The 2026 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue was formally opened by H.E. Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of Viet Nam as keynote speaker on 29 May. The event took place in Singapore from 29 May to 31 May 2026.
