Teodoro: China sanctions won’t change PH rights in West Philippine Sea

MANILA — In a no-holds-barred statement, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. slammed China over reported plans to impose sanctions on Filipino lawmakers who have spoken out against Beijing.

The statement comes after an October 22 report by a Chinese media outlet that China is planning to impose sanctions over Filipino lawmakers over their allegedly anti-China remarks.

The reported sanctions could also affect several areas, including diplomatic relations, issues concerning the West Philippine Sea, trade and economic supplies, labor policies, tourism, and consular arrangements.

Teodoro dismissed the reported move as propaganda amid ongoing maritime issues between the Philippines and China.

“Gawin na nila yung gusto nila. This is all propaganda, hindi lumilihis sa issue. Meron ba silang karapatan sa West Philippine Sea, sa Ayungin, or sa Bajo de Masinloc? Yun ang major point,” he said.

(They can do it if they want to. This is all propaganda. Let’s stick to the issue. Do they have rights in the West Philippine Sea, in Ayungin Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc? That is the major point.)

He stressed that China was avoiding documented and factual arguments, particularly the arbitration ruling that overwhelmingly favored the Philippines in its dispute with China over maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea.

“Hindi nila sinasagot yun, sinasabi lang nila meron,” he said.

(They are not addressing that. They just say that they do.)

He said that when told to file its own arbitration case to settle the matter, China refused.

Teodoro described the reported sanctions as a potential distraction from what he suggested could be China’s underlying motives.

He added China could be using “weaponizing” economic ties in the issue over the West Philippine Sea.

He also accused China of bullying the Philippines by using its power and influence.

“Maliwanag ‘yan, pati sa pananalita nung ambassador na yan, halatang-halata naman eh. ‘Di ba? Edi i sanction nila,” he said.

(That is clear even in their ambassador’s statements, it is very obvious. Let them impose sanctions if they want.)

Teodoro, who has been vocal about the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea is already subject to Chinese sanctions, including barring him and his family from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, in a social media post, emphasized that nobody wants war.

“Pero kailangan din nating magsalita at tumindig sa bumababoy ng dangal ng ating bansa. (But we need to speak up and stand up to those who disrespect our honor as a country).  We dont choose to be bullied silently,” he said.

Amid the exchange of heated remarks between officials, Dr. Chester Cabalza, founding president of the International Development and Security Cooperation, called for self-restraint to avoid affecting diplomatic discussions between world leaders.

“Pansamantala, tumigil na itong word war na ito. Mag-reflect tayo,” he said.

(For now, let’s stop this word war. Let’s do some reflection.)