By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — China has accused Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of engaging in “provocations and theatrics” after the Philippine official publicly challenged Beijing’s position on the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks Wednesday, September 9, while reiterating Beijing’s long-standing rejection of the arbitral decision.
Mao said China remained firm in its position on the case, which was initiated by the Philippines under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“China’s position has always been clear on the so-called ‘South China Sea arbitration,’” Mao said in a statement posted by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.
She accused Manila of having “unilaterally initiated the case” and described the move as a “distortion and abuse” of the UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanism.
“It is the Philippine side who has violated UNCLOS and undermined its integrity and authority,” Mao said.
She also called on “a certain individual of the Philippine side” to “cut the provocations and theatrics,” warning against actions that Beijing said could undermine China-Philippines relations and stability in the South China Sea.
Mao’s statement followed an exchange involving Teodoro at the Seoul Defense Dialogue in South Korea a day earlier.
While Teodoro was answering a question about the South China Sea, he received a handwritten note from the office of the Chinese embassy’s defense attaché in Seoul, who was attending the forum.
The note reiterated China’s rejection of the 2016 arbitration ruling, describing the proceedings as “illegal, null and void.”
Teodoro read portions of the note before the audience and responded directly.
When the note stated that China “neither accepted nor recognized” the ruling, Teodoro replied: “Of course, because you lost.”
He also questioned the decision to deliver the note while he was speaking at the international forum.
“How can you deal with a country in an international forum, beyond the question asked to me, disrespecting the organizers of this forum, how do you expect to deal with it civilly?” Teodoro said.
The Seoul Defense Dialogue, hosted by South Korea’s defense ministry, is a major regional gathering of defense officials.
The Philippines initiated arbitration proceedings against China in 2013 under UNCLOS.
In 2016, the arbitral tribunal ruled that China had no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources within areas covered by the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing has consistently rejected the ruling, maintaining that it is “illegal, null and void” and has no binding force.
The latest exchange comes as tensions between Manila and Beijing continue over competing claims and activities in the South China Sea.
China also imposed sanctions on Teodoro and his family in June, including restrictions on entry into mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau and a ban on Chinese organizations and individuals conducting transactions with them.
ia/xf
