MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. confronted Chinese delegates over their note questioning the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award and reminded delegates to practice decency during a high-level security forum in Seoul, South Korea.
Teodoro was speaking at the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) on Sept. 8 when he received a note from an unidentified Chinese delegate concerning China’s position on the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award, saying it “violates fundamental principles of international law.”
“The so-called award is illegal, null, and void,” the note stated, referring to the historic arbitral ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) won by the Philippines in 2016 that rejected China’s expansionist nine-dash line claims in the South China Sea.
Teodoro, who represented Manila in discussions on international stability and regional security, stressed that such exchanges should observe basic decency and respect not only for the Philippines but also for South Korea as host and for the other participants of the dialogue.
“If this is a Chinese position sent to me, it not only disrespects international law, throwing UNCLOS to the floor and trampling upon it, but it also disrespects the basic decency that should be accorded to our most gracious host, the Republic of Korea, and the rest of our audience here,” he said.
“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 this question, is this the right paper to pose to me when I'm being asked a question on the floor? And how will you treat this kind of behaviour?” Teodoro said after questioning the manner in which the note was delivered during the dialogue.
“So perhaps, basic decency and behavior is what China needs to do. In Filipino, maging disente lang kayo nang konti, mahiya naman kayo nang konti (show a little decency, have more shame),” he added, earning applause from the crowd.
Teodoro joined defense leaders worldwide in the opening plenary on “Collaborative Architecture for International Stability.”
“We will never compromise our territorial integrity and sovereignty. We will continue to resist aggression by anyone against Philippine territory,” he said.
