Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. publicly read a confidential note from a Chinese diplomat aloud during a multilateral security conference in South Korea, turning the attempt at intimidation into a live rebuke according to the South China Morning Post. The incident occurred on Tuesday at the Seoul Defence Dialogue while Teodoro was delivering an address on maritime security and international law.
Philippine Defense Chief Exposes Chinese Note Mid-Speech in Seoul
A forum staff member approached the podium and handed Teodoro the document during his speech. Forum organizers later stated that the note originated from a military attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, who had passed it to a staff member with instructions to deliver it to the Philippine minister as reported by NTD. Although the staff member initially believed the paper came from Teodoro’s own delegation, the defense secretary quickly identified its true source and decided to address its contents directly before the attending audience noted BizPac Review.
Challenging the 2016 Arbitration Award
The handwritten note reiterated Beijing’s stance on the South China Sea arbitration, arguing that the proceedings violated fundamental principles of international law. It stated that the 2016 arbitral award denying most of China’s expansive maritime claims was illegal, null and void,
and asserted that China neither accepts nor recognizes the decision according to NTD.
The ruling stemmed from a case filed by the Philippines in 2013 with the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (BizPac Review reported). The tribunal concluded in 2016 that Beijing lacked any legal basis to claim historic rights within its “nine-dash line” beyond entitlements permitted under UNCLOS.
Reading from the document on stage, Teodoro challenged the logic of the message in real time. Of course, because you lost,
Teodoro remarked to the audience after reading that Beijing rejects the ruling as detailed by NTD. Pointing out that China is a signatory to UNCLOS, he added: So China means UNCLOS, which it signed, ‘violates international law.’ That’s what you mean.
Condemning Coercion and Disrespect
Teodoro criticized the delivery of the note as an affront not only to the Philippines and international law, but also to the South Korean hosts and the forum audience reported Townhall. Holding the paper up for attendees to see, he declared that such tactics transcend standard maritime disputes.
This is not gray zone anymore. This is actual coercion, bullying, and aggression,
Teodoro told the audience, adding that he would keep the paper as a memento of how desperate China is and how ineffective its position is in the face of a free audience
according to NTD.
Beijing Responds With Accusations of Grandstanding
The following day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning denounced the Philippine official’s actions, accusing Manila of engaging in public theatrics. We urge certain people in the Philippines to stop this grandstanding and lying, and to protect China-Philippine relations and the peace and stability in the South China Sea,
Mao stated as reported by the South China Morning Post. Mao also stated she was not aware of the specific details of the incident while accusing the Philippines of provoking trouble noted NTD.
