China assails Teodoro for ‘ignorance of history’ after remarks on WWII parade with Putin, Kim

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese Embassy in Manila has accused Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of having an "ignorance of history" after he criticized Beijing's recent World War II victory parade that was also joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In a strongly worded statement released Friday, the embassy's spokesperson said Teodoro's remarks on China’s domestic and foreign affairs “showed nothing but his arrogance, disrespect for truth and ignorance of history.” 

The embassy said in a statement attributed to an unnamed spokesperson that it was not the first time the Philippines' defense chief had made what it described as “anti-China remarks.”

What came before. The rebuke from the embassy comes after Teodoro last week questioned China's call to "reframe" historical perspectives about World War II during its commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. 

Speaking to reporters in Baguio City after attending the Philippines’ own Victory Day rites on September 3, Teodoro said China’s approach risked whitewashing historical atrocities. He cited the deaths of millions under Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin as examples of how authoritarian leaders had used history for political ends. 

Teodoro's remarks did not sit well with the Chinese embassy, which countered that China had paid a heavy price in its resistance against Japanese forces, suffering more than 35 million killed or wounded. It said the commemoration was intended “to remember history, honor fallen heroes, cherish peace, and create a better future.” 

The embassy also noted that more than 20 heads of state and government leaders attended China's commemorative events, including around 10 from neighboring Southeast Asian countries who "spoke highly of both events and praised China in upholding peace and advancing multilateral cooperation."

Teodoro had specifically criticized the presence of Putin and Kim Jong Un at the Beijing parade, describing it as threatening to smaller nations. He had described the the three leaders as those who "do not follow and oppose international law."

The embassy also used its statement to promote Beijing's Global Governance Initiative, launched at the recent SCO summit in Tianjin. 

The initiative aims to create "a more just and equitable global governance system" and advance toward "a community with a shared future for humanity," according to the embassy.

The Chinese embassy described the initiative as addressing "new threats and challenges" in what it called "a new period of turbulence and transformation" globally, saying it had been "warmly welcomed and supported by leaders and heads of international organizations."

"We hope that the Philippine Defense Secretary could view the world with open eyes, move beyond the Cold War mentality, and refrain from being the source of deficit of trust," the embassy said.

The defense chief is one of the most vocal critics of China under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., having previously accused Beijing of not only escalatory actions in the South China Sea, but also being behind "criminal syndicates" in the region and unwilling to "uphold human rights in their own country."

Teodoro in return has been accused by the embassy of "personally impeding and obstructing" military contacts between both countries. 

Under Marcos, the Philippines has strengthened defense relations with the United States while maintaining economic and trade ties with China, which remains its largest trading partner.