MANILA, Philippines — The reply of the Chinese Embassy to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shows the Chinese Communist Party’s “true intentions” in dealing with the Philippines, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Sunday, June 28.
Teodoro made the statement following the Chinese Embassy to Manila's June 23 statement, saying that the 2016 arbitral tribunal on the West Philippine Sea is “illegal, null, and void.”
“It clearly shows their insincerity and duplicity, which are amply personified by their Embassy officials. We condemn the arrogant display of deceitful indignation by them,” Teodoro said.
“Hindi kapanipaniwala ang mga sinasabi kaya idinadaan sa alboroto,” he added.
(Their claims are unbelievable, which is why they resort to making a scene.)
The DFA issued a statement last week denouncing China's non-recognition of the 2016 Arbitral Award, which affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. It also ruled that China’s nine-dash line is unlawful.
The department pointed out that the ruling was handed down by a tribunal established under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a treaty ratified by both the Philippines and China.
It emphasized that the decision is definitive and legally binding. The DFA maintained that the award now stands as a permanent fixture of international law, offering clear legal definitions for maritime entitlements and rights within the South China Sea.
However, the Chinese Embassy rejected these claims, insisting that the settlement mechanism under the UNCLOS is “wrongly interpreted” and had “no jurisdiction” over the dispute because it involved territorial issues.
Since the 2016 ruling, China has insisted on the legality of the nine-dash line. This has led to clashes between its coast guard vessels and maritime militia and the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fishermen.