Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. during a press conference after the Department of National Defense’s anniversary held in Camp Aguinaldo. INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza
MANILA, Philippines — Branding China’s claims as lies, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday blasted Beijing for stating that Manila is “stirring up trouble” following its joint patrol with the United States.
“Sino ba ang nananakop? (Who is the invader?) It is China. The Philippines is not stirring up trouble, this is the reversal of the truth. It’s an absolute falsity for China to say that,” Teodoro said in a press briefing during the Department of National Defense anniversary in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Teodoro also said that China’s “reversal of truth” is consistent with its narrative, stressing that Beijing has a “very, very low credibility.”
“It is, again, reversing the truth, consistent with its narrative. The Philippines is not stirring up trouble, as we always reiterate.
“Our interests are to protect our rights, in accordance with Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the international law which China purports to respect in words, but unfortunately not in deeds.
“So I think whatever China says about this, I think their credibility is very, very low,” Teodoro continued.
Teodoro reacted to China’s southern theatre command, which said the Philippines was “stirring up trouble” by conducting joint patrols with the United States in the West Philippine Sea.