Teodoro hits China for rejecting South China Sea arbitral award: 'Of course, you lost'

Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro vehemently criticized China's expansive claims in the South China Sea after receiving an unsigned note that rejected the arbitral award while he was speaking before a defense and security forum in Seoul, South Korea. According to JP Soriano's report on "24 Oras," the note stated that China does not recognize the arbitral award that nullified its historical claims in the South China Sea. Teodoro, in a panel discussion at the Seoul Defense Dialogue, responded to the pro-China points raised in the note by saying, "Of course. Because you lost." The origin of the note was unclear. Teodoro indicated that China should have joined the forum hosted by South Korea. "I think this is from China… You should have joined the... and may I read it? ‘China's position on the South China Sea arbitration is clear, consistent, and firm.’ They have no position!” Teodoro said. He further added, “‘The so-called award is illegal, null and void.’ So say you. ‘And has no binding force.’ Because you don't want to be subjected to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," he added. "How do you expect to deal with it civilly? I ask you the question: Is this the right paper to pose to me when I am being asked a question on the floor? And how will you treat this kind of behavior?” Teodoro questioned China's approach. GMA News has reached out to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines for a response. Amid continued harassment from China in the West Philippine Sea, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials have expressed concern over submarine cables, pipelines, and other infrastructure in the sea. DFA Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim, without naming a country, said, “The risks are expanding from traditional natural disasters and piracy to gray-zone tactics, state-sponsored cyberattacks, physical sabotage, and the hybrid realities of geopolitical friction.” Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Dennis Chan also questioned what legal remedies the Philippines has. "In such a case, why can't the coastal state, like the Philippines for that matter, prosecute these foreign offenders directly? This situation highlights the gap and inadequacy of existing laws to deal with these modern problems," Chan said.