SEOUL — Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro publicly rebuked China at the Seoul Defence Dialogue after a note outlining Beijing’s position on the South China Sea arbitration was placed before him mid-speech. The incident unfolded as Teodoro addressed maritime challenges.
A man approached from behind and set a sheet of paper on the table. Teodoro paused, picked it up, and asked whether it came from China before reading parts aloud.
“I have a note here. I think this is from China. And may I read it?” he said, according to the account.
The note stated that China’s position on the arbitration was “clear, consistent and firm” and argued the case violated fundamental principles of international law. Teodoro challenged the legal reasoning, invoking the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, under which the Philippines brought the case.
“So what you signed unclause. You mean violates international law. That’s what you mean,” he said.
He then delivered a blunt verdict on Beijing’s argument: “They have no position.” The 2016 arbitration tribunal rejected China’s expansive historic-rights claims in the South China Sea and found no legal basis for Beijing’s claims to resources within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China has dismissed the ruling, maintaining the tribunal lacked jurisdiction. The note described the ruling as illegal, null and void, and without binding force.
Teodoro criticised the manner of delivery, questioning how a country that disrespects an international forum’s organisers can be dealt with civilly. He argued the episode also slighted South Korea, the host.
“If this is a Chinese position sent to me, it not only disrespects international law throwing uncloths to the floor and trampling upon it, but it also disrespects the basic decency accorded that should be accorded to our most gracious hosts, the Republic of Korea and the rest of the audience here,” he said. He accused China of applying pressure on Manila.
“Perhaps basic decency and behavior is what China needs to do now,” Teodoro said, adding he would keep the note “as a memento of how desperate China is and how ineffective its position is in the face of a free audience.” He also made a sarcastic remark to the person who handed it over: “You just done your country a great service. Thank you.
And I hope you don’t suffer in a gulag for it.” According to forum organisers, as reported by Yonhap News Agency, the note came from a Chinese military attaché with the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, who gave it to a staff member with instructions to pass it to Teodoro. The staff member apparently mistook it for a message from Teodoro’s own delegation. The episode underscores a long-running standoff.
The Philippines brought the arbitration under UNCLOS, and Manila has repeatedly voiced concern over Chinese activity in areas it considers its exclusive economic zone. Teodoro used the moment to reiterate that concern, saying the Philippines “face challenges daily from the People’s Republic of China, which tries to occupy and illegally assert its presence over our…” — the account cuts off there. The Seoul Defence Dialogue, a regional security forum, provided an international stage for the exchange.
Teodoro’s remarks framed the incident as a diplomatic misstep by Beijing in front of a free audience, while also signalling Manila’s intent to keep pressing its maritime claims through legal and public channels.
