Will Philippine China hardliners elect the president in 2028? Defense Minister Teodoro relented

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who has a tough stance on China, said on the 30th that he is open to running for the 2028 Philippine presidential election. Teodoro also warned that the next Philippine government should be cautious about Chinese investment, especially investment in critical infrastructure.

Tiodoro was interviewed by Bloomberg on the 30th. When asked whether he would run for president, he said, "If I have a chance, maybe! If not, forget it." The current president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is subject to term limits and cannot run for re-election in 2028.

Teodolo, who was sanctioned by China earlier this year, is one of the Philippines' most outspoken critics of China's military expansion in the South China Sea. On the other hand, he actively promoted the Philippines to strengthen its defense alliance with the United States. During his tenure, the Philippines allowed the United States to deploy weapons and equipment within its territory, and implemented the expansion of the US military's use of Philippine military bases adjacent to two major regional hotspots, Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Tiodoro said the next government should remain vigilant about Chinese funding. He mentioned that former President Rodrigo Duterte established closer relations with Beijing during his tenure, "That was accommodation, not just cooperation. The result? Our country is suddenly flooded with illegal Chinese activities under the guise of investment."

However, Tiodoro also said that not all Chinese investments are bad, especially those that "go through proper due diligence procedures"; but he reminded that investment in critical infrastructure should be cautious because "we have an inter-state dispute with an aggressive neighbor."

The United States is promoting a regional defense cooperation framework in response to China's presence in the region. Teodolo met with U.S. Secretary of War (Secretary of Defense) Pete Hegseth during the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu this week, and the two sides agreed to accelerate the modernization of the Philippine military.