MELBOURNE: Philippine defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro said Tuesday that he didn't expect President-elect Donald Trump's next administration would demand that the Philippines pay more for military protection because both allies faced the shared threat of China. Teodoro was speaking at a news conference with Australian defence minister Richard Marles following an inaugural bilateral annual meeting aimed at improving security ties. Asked if Trump would expect the Philippines, like Taiwan, to pay for US protection, Teodoro replied: "I really don't expect some sort of a statement from Mr. Trump, hopefully not." "I really don't have any preconditions or any assumptions as to what will be the outcome of this administration, except on what we are working on - on institutional ties," he said. "We have an interest, both the United States and the Philippines, in ensuring that our partnership continues because - not totally, but principally - ... of shared threats. And that is undoubtedly the overreach and the aggressive and illegal activities of