DEFENSE Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said on Monday the Philippines must build up its defense capability to counter China’s expansionist claims in the West Philippine Sea, which threaten the survival of future generations of Filipinos.

Speaking at a symposium in Camp Aguinaldo, Teodoro said China defends its incursions in Philippine waters with arguments that contradict international law.

“What China is doing is to contain the survival of future generations of Filipinos,” the official said.

He said the Philippines is one of the five countries whose sovereignty is protected by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

“It is not only for us, but it is for the peace and prosperity of our future generations that we are able to explore, exploit and protect natural resources that rightfully belong to [the] Republic of the Philippines patrimony and if we fail in doing

so, we are doing a disservice to future generations and for the rest of mankind,” Teodoro said.

Experts on maritime law also shared their insights on territorial and sovereign rights during the symposium.

China continues to assert its claims on the West Philippine Sea using harassment and intimidation.

It has prevented Filipino fishers from entering the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and Chinese ships have been harassing boats delivering supplies to Filipino soldiers stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

To respond to challenges to its sovereignty in the disputed areas, the Philippines must have “robust armed forces and defense mechanisms,” Teodoro said.

“We have to build a resilient, redundant and self-reliant defense system,” he said. To achieve that, the Defense department is strengthening its logistical capability.

“We’ve built logistical reserves, and we in the Defense department are totally committed to that reserve and project management efficiencies in acquisitions, efficiencies in human capabilities and efficiencies in motivating the right skills and right people for the right job are essential to building this architecture,” Teodoro said.

The department is also formulating a philosophy of operation “that is flexible, adaptable, sustainable, redundant and realistic,” he said.