FILE PHOTO: Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Philippine Daily Inquirer / Grig C. Montegrande
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. scoffed at China’s recent “propaganda” to insist on its ownership of the West Philippine Sea.
The Department of National Defense (DND) chief rejected China’s claim that the Philippines is doing provocative actions, firmly asserting that it is Beijing that is intruding into Manila’s water.
“Kung tatawagin tayong provocative, provocative kung tayo magpatrol sa 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone nila, mangisda tayo doon. Sila ang nanghihimasok dito, so paano tayo magpo-provoke sa kanila,” Teodoro said in an ambush interview at a convention center in Pasay City.
(If we are called provocative, provocative if we patrol their 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, we fish there. They are the ones interfering here, so how can we provoke them.)
READ: Teodoro blasts China’s ‘hypocrisy’ for claiming BRP Sierra Madre causes harm in WPS
“Mukhang katawa-tawa naman yang mga statement na ganyan, at sila na lang ang naniniwala sa propaganda nila,” he added.
(Statements like that seem ridiculous, and they are the only ones who believe their propaganda.)
The Chinese government recently said the Philippines should “stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea and stop groundless attacks and smears” as Manila repeatedly asserts its sovereign rights in the disputed waters.
READ: China claims Ayungin Shoal has never been part of PH
China believes that it owns almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, through its 10-dash line – a revision of its previous nine-dash line which the Philippines challenged in 2013 before the Arbitral Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
READ: Key points of arbitral tribunal’s verdict on PH-China dispute
In July 2016, the tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines which sought to invalidate the nine-dash line that overlaps within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
READ: ‘West PH Sea dispute may be behind surge in naval force reservists’
kga
