China is putting ever-greater pressure on the Philippines to cede its sovereign rights in the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo “Gibo” C. Teodoro, Jr. said on Tuesday after a meeting with his Australian counterpart in Canberra. “What we see is an increasing demand by Beijing for us to concede our sovereign rights in the area,” he said, adding that the Philippines is a “victim of Chinese aggression.” China and the Philippines have sparred repeatedly this year over disputed areas of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, one of Asia’s most contested features.

Ordoñez, J. V. D. (2024, November 13). Philippines says it’s under pressure from China to cede claims in South China Sea. BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.