PH Defense Minister Slams China at Seoul Defense Dialogue

Thairath•International•12d ago

Reader Briefing

Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro criticized China for a lack of manners after receiving a note rejecting the 2016 arbitration ruling during a security forum in Seoul.

•Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro confronted China at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on Tuesday, September 8.
•A note from the Chinese defense attaché in Seoul was delivered to Gilberto Teodoro during his speech, stating the 2016 arbitration ruling is illegal and void.
•Gilberto Teodoro accused China of coercion and aggression, stating the situation has moved beyond gray-zone operations.

Overview

•On Tuesday, September 8, Gilberto Teodoro spoke at the Seoul Defense Dialogue in Seoul, South Korea.
•A Chinese defense attaché sent a note via forum staff to Gilberto Teodoro during a discussion on maritime security and UNCLOS.
•The note from China asserted that the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the South China Sea is illegal, void, and non-binding.
•Gilberto Teodoro read the note aloud to participants and criticized China for lacking basic manners and disrespecting the host, South Korea.
•Gilberto Teodoro argued that China's rejection of the ruling implies China also rejects UNCLOS, to which China is a party.
•Gilberto Teodoro characterized China's current actions as coercion, bullying, and actual aggression rather than gray-zone pressure.
•The 2016 international arbitration ruling found no legal basis for China's historical claims and the nine-dash line in the South China Sea.
•Gilberto Teodoro affirmed that the Philippines will adhere to UNCLOS, modernize its military, and strengthen security cooperation with countries that respect international law.

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Key Quotes

Gilberto Teodoro

"Perhaps what China needs is manners and appropriate behavior."

บางทีสิ่งที่จีนจำเป็นต้องมีคือมารยาทและพฤติกรรมที่เหมาะสม

Gilberto Teodoro

"This is no longer a gray zone; this is coercion, bullying, and actual aggression."

นี่ไม่ใช่พื้นที่สีเทาอีกต่อไป แต่นี่คือการบีบบังคับ การกลั่นแกล้ง และการรุกรานอย่างแท้จริง

Gilberto Teodoro

"Be a bit more polite and have some shame."

ทำตัวให้สุภาพขึ้นอีกหน่อย และรู้จักละอายบ้าง

Key Entities

Person

Gilberto Teodoro(กิลแบร์โต เตโอโดโร)ℹ️

The Defense Minister of the Philippines.

Organization

China(จีน)ℹ️

A country claiming rights over most of the South China Sea and rejecting the 2016 arbitration ruling.

Philippines(ฟิลิปปินส์)ℹ️

A country asserting maritime rights based on UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitration ruling.

South Korea(เกาหลีใต้)ℹ️

The host country of the Seoul Defense Dialogue.

Permanent Court of Arbitration(ศาลอนุญาโตตุลาการถาวร)ℹ️

The body (PCA) that issued the 2016 ruling on the South China Sea dispute.

Place

Seoul(กรุงโซล)ℹ️

The capital of South Korea where the security meeting took place.

South China Sea(ทะเลจีนใต้)ℹ️

The area of maritime dispute between China and the Philippines.

Law

UNCLOS(อนุสัญญาสหประชาชาติว่าด้วยกฎหมายทะเล)ℹ️

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.