Manila defence boss slams ‘bullying’ China after note at forum

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has condemned China's behavior following a Chinese note he received at an international forum. The note, which reflected China's stance on the South China Sea dispute, Teodoro argued, disregarded not only international law but also the principles of basic decency and proper forum conduct.

Teodoro received the note during a panel discussion at the Seoul Defense Dialogue, a South Korean-hosted event. He read out the contents of the note, which stated that China's position on the South China Sea arbitration was "clear, consistent, and firm," and that the arbitration violated fundamental principles of international law.

The arbitration refers to a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal in The Hague that sided with the Philippines in its case against China's claims to the South China Sea. Teodoro's statement is significant as it highlights the growing tensions in the region and China's aggressive actions towards its territorial claims. Neither South Korea's defense ministry nor China's embassy commented on Teodoro's allegation.