China to Teodoro: Cut the provocations and theatrics

The Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro’s viral rebuttal of Beijing’s stance on the West Philippine Sea, telling him to cut the “provacations and theatrics.”

“I’m not sure what exactly happened at the event, but China’s position has always been clear on the so-called ‘South China Sea arbitration’. The Philippines unilaterally initiated the case, which is a distortion and abuse of the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) dispute settlement mechanism. It is the Philippine side who has violated UNCLOS and undermined its integrity and authority,” Mao said.

“We urge the certain individual of the Philippine side to cut the provocations and theatrics, and stop undermining China-Philippines relations and stability in the South China Sea,” she added.

Mao’s statement was posted by the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

This comes after Teodoro lashed out at China's massive claims in the South China Sea after he was handed an unsigned note while speaking before a defense and security forum in Seoul, South Korea.

The paper, assumed to have come from Chinese representatives, dismissed Manila’s claim over the West Philippine Sea.

Teodoro then answered the stance point by point.

“'The so-called award is illegal, null and void.' So say you. ‘And has no binding force.’ Because you don't want to be subjected to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," Teodoro said.

The Defense Secretary then questioned why he was handed that paper mid-statement, calling it disrespectful to the South Korean hosts.

Teodoro called the gesture from China rude, asking how one could deal with such behavior. He added that it was also disrespectful to the host.

“How do you expect to deal with it civilly? I ask you the question: Is this the right paper to pose to me when I am being asked a question on the floor? And how will you treat this kind of behavior?” Teodoro said.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that it respected Teodoro’s position.

“We respect the statement and views of Secretary Teodoro. Other than that, I do not wish to further comment,” DFA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Analyn Ratonel said in a press conference on Wednesday.

The Philippines won its claim over the West Philippine Sea in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016. Despite this, Chinese vessels have continued to lay claim over Philippine waters. Chinese forces have blasted Philippine vessels with water cannons, injuring Filipino crewmen on several occasions. —VAL, GMA News