Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Saturday that China must overcome a “deficit of trust and credibility” if it hopes to restore military relations with the Philippines, adding that any significant improvement in ties is unlikely in the near future.

Teodoro stressed the rising security threat posed by China, whose aggressive military activities in the West Philippine Sea have become increasingly frequent and expansive.

“China’s activities are getting more aggressive. We see more demonstrations of force, and their coverage is growing,” Teodoro said. “They continue their incursions while gaslighting us, exploiting the fact that our defensive posture isn’t as developed as Vietnam’s. We’ve become the easier target.”

His remarks came after a bilateral meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, where both officials reaffirmed their commitment to peacefully deterring Beijing’s expanding influence in the region.

Teodoro expressed confidence in Washington’s security pledges, saying that the alliance remains strong in the face of mounting Chinese pressure.

“No other country in ASEAN is facing the kind of persistent and multi-pronged pressure from China that we are,” he said, highlighting Manila’s position as one of Beijing’s most outspoken regional critics.

While neighboring Southeast Asian nations such as Malaysia have taken more muted diplomatic positions on China’s territorial assertions in the South China Sea, the Philippines has consistently challenged Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims and presence within its exclusive economic zone.

China has yet to respond to the latest statements from Manila, and its defense ministry did not immediately comment on the issue.