Defense chief rebukes China, says no country has condemned the Philippines over SCS

MANILA, Philippines — After another fresh wave of accusations that the Philippines has been stirring up “trouble” in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday that no country has condemned the Philippines over its actions in the tense waterways.

"I just want to react, I think there was a comment that the Philippines is provoking activities here and that we are creating trouble in the South China Sea as stated by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My response to that is that only China believes in what they are saying,” Teodoro told reporters at the sidelines of an event in La Union.

"And no country in the world, none, to this type has condemned the Philippines in what it's doing. That is the best proof of what I said," Teodoro added.

Teodoro also said that no nation “unequivocally” backs China’s claim to the whole of the South China Sea, which includes its use of a nine-dash line that cites sovereignty claims already rejected by an international tribunal seven years ago. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this week raised the need for a “paradigm shift” in how the Philippines handles disputes in the South China Sea as its diplomatic relations with Beijing have been heading south.

The president also said that “traditional methods of diplomacy” — such as sending note verbales and summoning Chinese envoys — have failed to work with Beijing.   

Stressing the need for a careful approach, Marcos said that the government will continue talking to its partners to come up with a WPS strategy that will not result in “violent conflict.”

Marcos was in Tokyo last week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan friendship and cooperation, where Southeast Asian and Japanese leaders agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in implementing maritime order in the face of China’s growing assertiveness. — Cristina Chi with reports from Gaea Katreena Cabico