Gibo: Be wary of foreign interference in domestic affairs

Member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should be wary of attempts by external powers to use legal and legitimate socioeconomic endeavors to interfere in their respective domestic affairs, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said.

- By PIA LEE-BRAGO and JANVIC MATEO

He raised the warning in a speech at the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) 2025 Retreat in Penang, Malaysia last week, during which he also urged his counterparts to work more vigorously in boosting the regional bloc's unity as he warned that a divided ASEAN risks weakening its ability to deal with growing security challenges in the region.

"We should resist coercion in whatever form, and exchange information on foreign activities that are inimical to our national interests," Teodoro said.

He also urged ASEAN to build trust among its militaries by expanding joint patrols, exercises and intelligence-sharing.

Teodoro met with Malaysian defense chief Mohamed Khaled Nordin on the sidelines of the ADMM Retreat to discuss key defense issues as well as ways to enhance security cooperation between the two nations.