Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro strongly criticised China during the Seoul Defense Dialogue after receiving an audience note defending Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 international tribunal ruling on the South China Sea. Teodoro defended the Philippines’ maritime claims, stressed compliance with UNCLOS and accused China of coercion, bullying and aggression.
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The speaker criticizes China's disregard for international law and basic decency following an incident where a note asserting China's position on the South China Sea was handed to them during a forum. The speaker condemns China's coercive behavior and illegal assertions over the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in violation of UNCLOS, noting the need for strategic defense alliances.
The law of gravity and the law of mass works in international law, unfortunately, just
like, is, just like, I have a note here, I think this is from China, you should have
joined the, and may I read it, China's position on the South China Sea arbitration is clear,
consistent and firm. They have no position. The arbitration violates fundamental principles
of international law. 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? I ask you the question, is this the right paper to post to me when
I'm being asked a question on the floor? And how will you treat this kind of behavior?
It not only disrespects, shows, if this is a Chinese position said to me, it not only
disrespects international law, throwing unclothed to the floor and trampling upon it, but also
disrespects the basic decency accorded, that should be accorded to our most gracious host,
the Republic of Korea and the rest of the audience here. So perhaps basic decency and
behavior is what China needs to do. This is actual coercion, bullying and aggression.
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. Thank you very much for the person who gave
me this piece of paper. You've just done your country a great service.
I think it is well known to the public, to everyone here, about the Philippine situation,
where we face challenges daily from the People's Republic of China, which tries to occupy and
illegally assert its presence over our territory, and especially our exclusive economic zone
in contravention with the UNCLOS. We live in a very interconnected world, and there
is no right for any state, of that matter, to appropriate an international common to
for its exclusive use or right, contrary to what the international norms clearly state.
So the Philippines has been forced to enter into creative defense arrangements and alliances.
