China accuses Philippine officials of lying over South China Sea note
In Seoul, South Korea, China accused Philippine officials of self-promotion and lying after Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. publicly read out a note from a Chinese diplomat concerning the South China Sea.
Beijing’s response
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on certain Philippine representatives to stop self-promotion and lying, and to safeguard China-Philippines relations as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea. This was reported by the South China Morning Post.
Mao commented on Teodoro’s speech at a Seoul Defence Dialogue session on Tuesday. During the event, he received a handwritten note reiterating Beijing’s position on the South China Sea arbitration.
The minister read out part of the note’s text. In it, China rejected the arbitration and described the 2016 ruling, which dismissed most of China’s claims in the South China Sea, as illegal, null and void, and without force.
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Note from an attaché
According to South Korean agency Yonhap, cited by the publication, the forum organizer said that the note was handed over by the military attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul. He gave it to a forum staff member and asked for it to be passed to Teodoro.
The Philippine minister called the move impolite toward the forum’s South Korean hosts. He also said that the note demonstrated disrespect for international law, described China’s actions as coercion, intimidation and aggression, and said he would keep the document as a souvenir.
The following day, Philippine Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Analyne Ratonel said in Manila that the department respected the defense minister’s statement and views. The incident occurred amid rising tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, where confrontations and, at times, clashes continue between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval vessels.
In June, Beijing imposed sanctions on Teodoro, saying that his statements about China undermined the legitimate interests of the PRC and damaged bilateral relations.
