Philippines Hosts Indian Analyst to Discuss China Strategy and West Philippine Sea Implications
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. hosted Nitin A. Gokhale, an Indian strategic affairs analyst and defense journalist, for a fireside chat in Manila. The discussion, titled 'Countering Asymmetric Coercion: Strategies from the Indo-China Border for the West Philippine Sea,' focused on India's experiences in addressing China's coercive tactics and their potential implications for Philippine defense thinking. The event, held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, explored how India has reacted to China's attempts at coercion and what lessons could be applied to the Philippines' maritime security concerns, particularly in the disputed West Philippine Sea. Secretary Teodoro emphasized the Philippines' dedication to safeguarding its territorial integrity and building defense cooperation with partners, acknowledging India's support following the 2016 arbitral decision on the South China Sea.
