Philippines recalls defense attaché to Beijing

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has recalled its defense attaché to Beijing, a move Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said was part of a “process of re-estabilishing and readjusting” postings under a “new engagement framework” of his department. 

Teodoro confirmed to Rappler on Tuesday, July 7, that Manila’s Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (DAFA), alongside his staff, were recalled to Manila for “consultations.” 

“This is part of our consultation to review what the way forward is for a DAFA posting in Beijing,” Teodoro told Rappler on the sidelines of the military’s first semester command conference with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. 

Navy Captain Arnold Fortin was assigned to Beijing in 2024. In December that year, Fortin and his police counterpart were introduced by Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz to Beijing’s security sector, according to a post from the Philippine embassy. 

“Our defense and military attaches abroad, we have found the need to establish new ones, augment existing ones because some I have only one or two…. And we also have been reviewing the posts where we do not necessarily need any, together with the defense cooperation agreements those that are stagnant, those that are not applicable at this time, and those in the future,” said Teodoro.

Defense attachés or DAFAs are military officers who are assigned to the Philippines’ different diplomatic posts — embassies or consulates — around the world. While they report to the Philippine ambassador or the head of post where they are assigned, they continue to be personnel of the military and the Department of National Defense. 

A July 2024 press release from the Philippine Navy about Fortin and other DAFAs’ call to the Flag-Officer-in-Command said DAFAs are “links for more cooperation on strategic defense matters and contribute significantly to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ mission to strengthen ties and enhance defense cooperation with other countries.” 

Consultations with Manila’s defense attaché come weeks after Beijing imposed sacntions on Teodoro and members of his family. He and his family are barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. People in China are also not allowed to transact with the Teodoros. 

The Defense dhief is among the most vocal critics of Beijing in the Philippine government, particularly over China’s actions both at sea and on land. Speaking to media on July 7, Teodoro called out China’s “lack of respect for our territorial integrity,” as well as its apparent interference efforts — from espionage to industry.  

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously said Beijing’s sanctions were “unhelpful” because they raise “the level of tension rather than lessens” it. Marcos has said that he wants a “reset” of ties with its northern neighbor. 

“I guess it is of course…it’s China’s prerogative to do whatever it is they please but in the largest scheme of things in my view it it it raises the level of tension rather than lessons which is always what we want and that’s why we continue to have open lines of communications with Beijing,” Marcos said in a media intervie in Vancouver on July 4. 

Teodoro said on Tuesday that “carefully controlled communications” with China “are necessary.” But he drew the line at “negoiations and other activities.”

“[Those] are not possible unfortunately because of the lack of good faith on their part and a lack of respect for our territorial integrity,” he added. 

Defense attachés can also be centers of controversy — in 2024, the Senate probed an apparent January 2024 phone call between China’s then-defense attaché to Manila Senior Colonel Li Jianzhong and then–Western Command chief Alberto Carlos.

Beijing threatened to leak the call in May 2024, claiming it was proof of a supposed agreement covering Ayuning (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. – Rappler.com