Manila, Sept. 18 -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday highlighted the need for a "strong defense backbone" in order for a country to earn international respect.

A DND statement late Wednesday said Teodoro gave this message during the September General Membership Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) in Makati City.

"Philippine resilience per se on a national defense basis is essential. No country in the world is taken seriously at face value, no matter how diplomatic you want to be, without a strong defense backbone," Teodoro told the attendees.

"Strong deterrent backbone for that matter," he added. "The smaller the country, the stronger the deterrence." ...