October 14, 2026

The Philippine military has thrown its support behind Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.'s suspension of direct military-to-military communication channels with China, as the Chinese Embassy in Manila warned that shutting down such contact fuels mistrust and narrows the space for crisis management amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claimed Tuesday that it "stands solidly behind and firmly supports" Teodoro's move, according to a report from the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday. 

A Chinese expert noted that the suspension of military-to-military communications between China and the Philippines would further undermine dialogue and mutual trust, while increasing the risk of misjudging each other's intentions. In the context of frequent maritime encounters, such miscalculations could severely weaken crisis management, raise the likelihood of sudden or unintended incidents, and expose frontline personnel on both sides to greater risks if tensions escalate unexpectedly because of less available communication channels. 

The AFP spokesperson, retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, claimed communication mechanisms could only work when based on what he described as mutual trust, sincerity and support for international law. He claimed bilateral dialogue had failed because "the messages" did not match "the actions on sea, air and ground," and accused China of using direct communication as a "smokescreen," a report in the Philippine Star said on Wednesday.  

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