Have some decency: Philippine shames China. Watch
During a defence conference in Seoul, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro publicly rebuked China for a note containing Beijing's stance on the South China Sea. The document was delivered to him by an event staff member who believed it had been sent by the Philippine delegation. Teodoro paused his speech, identified the message as likely from China, and read it aloud to the audience.
The note reiterated China's consistent position on the South China Sea dispute, rejecting the 2016 tribunal decision and maintaining its claim to historic rights in the contested waters. Teodoro criticized China's timing and behavior, questioning why Beijing chose to deliver the message during an international forum hosted by South Korea.
He emphasized the need for basic decency and respect for international law, holding up the document as proof of China's desperation and weakness. The incident highlighted the ongoing South China Sea dispute between the two countries, even at international forums primarily focused on defence and security.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
