Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro condemns China over South China Sea ruling

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. denounced remarks by the Chinese Embassy as “insincere and duplicitous,” saying they "offer a window into the true intentions of the Chinese Communist Party" in Manila. He criticized Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration award that invalidated China’s nine‑dash line claims, calling the Chinese statement an “arrogant display of deceptive indignation.”

Teodoro reiterated the Philippines’ demand that China honor the binding ruling and affirmed Manila’s resolve to protect its territorial interests, stating “We will not be oppressed.” The dispute remains a focal point of regional security, with the United States reaffirming its alliance with the Philippines amid the ongoing tensions.