Photo Caption: Seoul, South Korea - January 12, 2017. The Samsung flag flies outside the company headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
[People News] On Tuesday (September 8), Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. spoke at a forum in South Korea, where he received a note that led him to address Beijing's challenges regarding the South China Sea arbitration ruling. He directly stated that Chinese officials should "have a little bit of politeness, a little sense of shame."
According to the Dajiyuan, this incident occurred during the opening plenary session of the "International Stability Cooperation Framework," which Teodoro attended with defense leaders from various countries. During the discussion segment, he spoke about the South China Sea dispute, criticizing certain unnamed nations for using hostile actions and unchecked power to undermine the interests of smaller countries. He emphasized the necessity of upholding international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
He warned that "the threat of war has become more imminent due to the unrestrained and uncontrolled abuse of force rather than justice."
Teodoro asserted that the Philippines will not sacrifice its territory or sovereignty and will continue to resist actions that violate international law. His comments are widely interpreted as a direct response to Beijing.
Note sparks confrontation
During this exchange, an audience member handed Teodoro a note.
After a quick glance at the note, Teodoro remarked, "This seems to be a note from China." He then read the contents of the note aloud.
The note stated, "The so-called arbitration ruling is illegal and invalid."
"That's your assertion," Teodoro replied.
The note refers to an arbitration ruling initiated by the Philippines in 2016 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The arbitration tribunal dismissed Beijing's so-called historical claims to most of the South China Sea based on the 'nine-dash line'.
However, Beijing has consistently refused to recognize the ruling and continues to assert sovereignty over vast areas of the sea, resulting in multiple confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in waters claimed by the Philippines.
Theodoro then read another point from the note, indicating that the Chinese side neither accepts nor acknowledges the ruling. He responded, 'Of course, because you lost (the case).'
Criticism of China's Disrespect for the Forum
Theodoro remarked that China's stance and the act of passing the note reflect a disregard for international law, which underpins the ruling, as well as for the participants of the forum.
'In an international forum, aside from the questions directed at me, how can you treat a country without respecting the forum organizers? How do you expect to address this matter in a civilized manner? I ask you, when I am questioned at the forum, should you present such documents to me? How will you respond to such behavior?' Theodoro challenged.
He stressed that such exchanges should not only respect the Philippines but also the host country, South Korea, and other dialogue participants, upholding basic courtesy and respect.
The Seoul Defense Dialogue is an annual multilateral security forum organized by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense since 2012, aimed at fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional security cooperation. The forum was elevated to a ministerial-level event in 2023.
Teodoro stated that if this note reflects the Chinese stance, it amounts to 'throwing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the ground and trampling it.'
'Perhaps what China should demonstrate is basic courtesy and behavior. In Filipino, this translates to 'just a little bit polite, a little bit of shame' (maging disente lang kayo ng kaunti, mahiya naman kayo ng kaunti),' Teodoro remarked, earning applause from the audience.
In a video released later by the Philippine Department of National Defense, Teodoro expressed gratitude to the individual who wrote him the note at the conclusion of his speech, adding, 'You just accomplished something significant for your country, and I hope you won't end up in a Gulag concentration camp because of it.'
It remains uncertain whether this note genuinely originated from officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government or delegation. The Chinese embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Reports indicate that no senior officials from the CCP government were present at this event.
Historical Confrontations Between Philippine and Chinese Officials
In 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. faced provocation from a Chinese major general during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Marcos's response at that time was widely shared online.
During that incident, the Chinese representatives also questioned the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling.
The questions raised by these Chinese officials align closely with the official narrative of the Chinese Communist Party regarding the tensions in the South China Sea. They accuse the Philippines of creating trouble in the region and criticize the country for following the directives of its treaty ally, the United States. Notably, nearly every neighboring country of China has faced similar accusations from the Communist Party using comparable language.
During a forum in South Korea, the Philippine Secretary of National Defense expressed the Philippines' vision for international stability, emphasizing that the future should focus on establishing a system that guarantees 'human survival, protection of human rights, health security, safeguarding against natural disaster threats, and access to educational opportunities within a framework of freedom of thought and speech, rather than state-sponsored lies and brainwashing activities.'
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