Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Reuters

Manila, June 30 — The Philippines has thrown its support behind a proposal to treat the East and South China seas as a single military zone, citing shared maritime threats and the need for stronger regional coordination. The idea, known as the "one-theatre" concept, aims to unify military operations across the disputed waters of East and Southeast Asia.

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said it is “reasonable” to group both seas into one area of operation, as both are maritime zones without land borders. However, he clarified that the Korean Peninsula should not be included in this strategic framework.

“This approach allows for better cooperation in operations, real-time information sharing, and stronger intelligence exchange among allies,” Teodoro said during a press briefing alongside Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene, who is on an official visit to the Philippines.

The concept has already been implemented by Japan’s Joint Operations Command and is gaining traction among regional defense partners. A new coordinating center is set to be established this December by a security grouping that includes the defense ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia, and the Philippines.

Tensions continue to rise in the region, with Japan and China locked in a long-standing dispute over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea — known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Similarly, the Philippines and China frequently clash over maritime features in the South China Sea, particularly areas that fall within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

In 2024, the Philippines and Japan signed a military agreement allowing troop deployments on each other’s soil. Since then, Manila has broadened its defense partnerships beyond the United States by sealing similar deals with New Zealand and pursuing agreements with Canada and France.

During Monday’s briefing, the Philippines and Lithuania signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen defense cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, maritime security, and munitions production.

“We are facing very similar threats,” said Lithuanian minister Sakaliene. “Our unfriendly neighbors are using nearly identical strategies to test our defenses.”