August 27, 2024 (Manila) – Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. asked for support for the Philippines to promote a rules-based international order during the 35th Military Law Operations (MILOPS) annual conference hosted by the United States Indo-Pacific Command and the Philippine government held on Tuesday in Manila.

“Please help the Philippines be, as (US) Ambassador (MaryKay L.) Carlson said, ‘a global leader in enforcing and upholding rules-based international order, norms of international law,’ and do not let the Philippines be a victim for standing up to international law,” Secretary Teodoro called on the participants of the conference.

He emphasized that the Philippines is not merely upholding its own sovereignty and sovereign rights, but is a test case for the agreed upon interpretations of the civilized world of what international law, particularly the law of the sea.

“I’d like to carry on from the statement of Ambassador Carlson, that the venue of this conference was both deliberate and significant. Indeed, the Philippines is at the forefront of upholding international law in this side of the world,” the defense chief added, reiterating the statement of the US envoy that the Philippines plays a central role in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to Secretary Teodoro, nations should adhere to the tenets of international law, especially the United Nations (UN) Charter, in the midst of regional security challenges.

“Let’s go back to the foundation that is Article 4 of the UN Charter, which does not allow any state to use force or threaten, even the word ‘threaten to use force,’ in asserting its territorial claims. That is foundational in a charter which was made post World War II,” Secretary Teodoro stressed.

“The repeated transgressions – and I’m not afraid to name them – by China to test how a body of law freely agreed upon, signed by even them, can be shaped or remolded into what they think is their version of international law,” added the DND Secretary. “And surely, the nexus is shaping a version for their own insular interests, which means it’s a zero-sum game. Their game, the world’s loss.”

Attended by representatives from about 29 countries, the 35th MILOPS is a four-day conference, which provides an opportunity for participants to discuss the important aspects of international law, military cooperation and the importance of the rules-based international order to a free and open Indo-Pacific.