Philippines defence minister Teodoro sharply criticises China over South China Sea arbitration

Philippine defence minister Gilberto Teodoro issued a statement on 28 June condemning China’s refusal to accept the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award, calling the Chinese response “hypocritical and two‑faced” and describing the embassy’s reply as “a window into the Chinese Communist Party’s true intentions”. Earlier in June, Teodoro had also claimed that China’s aid of fertiliser and fuel was merely “packaging and deception” and that Manila faced a “serious threat” from Beijing.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning rebuked the minister, saying his remarks “damage mutual trust, are against the interests of the Philippines and its people, and undermine the efforts of both sides to stabilise relations”. Mao urged the Philippine government to “strictly restrain the conduct of officials” and to ensure that individual statements do not jeopardise bilateral cooperation. The Chinese embassy in Manila has reiterated that the arbitration ruling is illegal, a political manipulation, and China has imposed sanctions on Teodoro, barring him from entry to mainland China, Hong Kong and restricting transactions with Chinese entities.