By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – China and the Philippineson Wednesday traded sharp words over the South China Sea after Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. accused Beijing of “coercion, bullying and aggression” after the delivery of a Chinese note at an international defence forum in Seoul.
China rejected the Philippine criticism, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated Beijing’s position on the arbitration case remained unchanged.
Teodoro spoke at the Seoul Defence Dialogue when he was handed a note contained China’s position on the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling.
The note, reportedly delivered through a staff member by a Chinese military attaché, said Beijing neither accepted nor recognised the award.
Teodoro read portions of the note aloud during the forum and challenged China’s rejection of the ruling, which was issued by an international tribunal constituted under the UN on the Law of the Sea.
“The Arbitration violates fundamental principles of international law.’ What you signed, UNCLOS, you mean violates international law. That’s what you mean,” Teodoro said.
He also responded to China’s refusal to recognise the award, said “‘China neither accepts nor recognizes the Award.’ Of course, because you lost.”
Teodoro criticised the manner in which the note was delivered, arguing that it was disrespectful to the forum, its participants and South Korea as the host.
“This is not gray zone anymore, this is actual coercion, bullying and aggression,” he said.
“I will keep this paper as a memento of how desperate China is and how ineffective its position is in the face of a free audience,” Teodoro added.
China rejected the Philippine criticism, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning saying Beijing’s position on the arbitration case remained unchanged.
“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’,” Mao told reporters in Beijing.
She said the Philippines had unilaterally initiated the arbitration and accused Manila of distorting and abusing the UNCLOS 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.”
The 2016 arbitration ruling overwhelmingly sided with the Philippines and rejected key elements of China’s sweeping claims including nine-dash line, recent land reclamation activities, and other activities in the South China Sea.
Beijing has refused to accept the ruling and continues to assert extensive claims over the strategically important waterway.
The dispute remains one of Asia’s most persistent security flashpoints, with overlapping claims involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
Tensions between Beijing and Manila have flared in recent years, particularly around disputed areas where coast guard and military vessels from both countries operate.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said it respected Teodoro’s remarks but declined to elaborate.
DFA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Analyn Ratonel told reporters “We respect the statement and views of Secretary Teodoro. Other than that, I do not wish to further comment”.
The latest exchange added to growing tensions between Beijing and Manila over the South China Sea, where disputes over maritime rights, access and competing territorial claims have increasingly spilled into diplomatic and security confrontations.
