Gilberto Teodoro, the Philippine Defense Minister, fiercely rebutted China on a security stage in South Korea after a Chinese military attaché handed him a note rejecting the 2016 international arbitration ruling on the South China Sea dispute. He criticized China to "learn some manners and stop bullying neighbors" and noted that the current situation is not merely "pressure in a gray zone" but genuine coercion, harassment, and aggression.
Gilberto Teodoro, the Philippine Defense Minister, publicly criticized China at a security conference in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday (8 Sep) after receiving a note from a Chinese official reaffirming China’s stance rejecting the 2016 international arbitration ruling that supported the Philippines’ maritime claims in the South China Sea.
The incident occurred during a discussion at the Seoul Defense Dialogue while Teodoro was addressing the maritime security challenges faced by the Philippines and emphasizing the importance of adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
An event official handed Teodoro the note while he was speaking. Organizers later explained that the note came from a Chinese military attaché at the Chinese embassy in Seoul, who asked staff to deliver it to the Philippine Defense Minister. However, the staff mistakenly believed it was from Teodoro’s own delegation, so they passed it to him directly during the discussion.
Teodoro paused his speech and read the note aloud to the audience. The message reaffirmed China’s position that the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the South China Sea dispute violated fundamental principles of international law and was an "illegal, null, and non-binding" decision.
Teodoro immediately responded that if China views the ruling as violating international law, it effectively claims that UNCLOS, to which China is a party, also violates international law.
When the note stated that the arbitration ruling was "non-binding," Teodoro retorted, "Because you don’t want to be bound by UNCLOS," and when the note said China "does not accept or recognize" the ruling, he sarcastically replied, "Of course, because you lost."
The 2016 ruling by the international arbitration tribunal stated there was insufficient legal basis for China to claim historic rights over resources in the South China Sea beyond maritime zones defined by UNCLOS. It also rejected the legitimacy of China’s "nine-dash line" claims over most of the area.
China has consistently rejected the ruling, calling it "null and void," while continuing to assert claims over most of the South China Sea, including areas within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
After reading the note, Teodoro held it up and criticized the action as reflecting China’s "desperate and ineffective" stance. He accused China of lacking "basic manners," disrespecting international law, and showing no respect to South Korea, the host of the forum.
Teodoro said, "Perhaps what China needs is some manners and proper behavior," prompting applause from attendees. He then added in Filipino, "Behave a little better and have some shame."
The Philippine Defense Minister also questioned why China chose to send a protest note while he was answering questions on stage, calling it disrespectful to the organizers and participants. He said it highlighted China’s difficulty in managing disputes with other countries in a civil manner.
Teodoro went on to say the incident showed that tensions in the South China Sea have moved beyond "gray zone operations." He stated, "This is no longer a gray zone; this is real coercion, bullying, and aggression."
He said he would keep the note as a reminder of what he saw as China’s weak position before the international community and jokingly told the staff who delivered it, "You just did your country a big favor. Hopefully, you won’t be sent to a gulag for this."
This event took place amid a prolonged maritime dispute between China and the Philippines, with China claiming most of the South China Sea, while the Philippines asserts its rights under UNCLOS and the 2016 international arbitration ruling.
Teodoro affirmed that the Philippines will continue to uphold UNCLOS and will not compromise its territorial integrity and sovereignty. He reiterated the country’s resolve to resist aggression from any party and to continue modernizing its military.
He also stated that the Philippines will strengthen security cooperation with countries that share a commitment to respecting and fairly enforcing international law. He emphasized that although international rules exist, the key issue is their equal enforcement, especially in relations between major powers and smaller states.
. . .Yonhap / INQUIRER.net