China’s recent actions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait were “not surprising”, Gilberto Teodoro told Reuters in an interview, saying Be

Beijing looked to take advantage when it thought rival powers were preoccupied elsewhere.

“It is not surprising that any opportunity they see, perceived opportunity, or with a perceived weakness or a perceived opening, they will take advantage,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro said he had full confidence in the Mutual Defense Treaty, the long‑standing security pact between Manila and Washington, and was not worried by concerns that the Iran war could weaken US strategic bandwidth in Asia.

“I’m not concerned at all about reduced deterrence,” he said, pointing to joint military exercises currently underway with the US as a sign of Washington’s commitment.