No one supports China’s claim to whole S. China Sea – Teodoro

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr yesterday debunked China’s claim that Philippines is causing trouble in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

“My response to that is that only China believes in what they are saying,” Teodoro told reporters in an ambush interview at the Wallace Air Station in La Union, where the Air Force received the first of four radar systems being acquired by the Philippines from Japan.

Teodoro said the radar system can detect intrusions as far as 300 nautical miles.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. It refuses to recognize a 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that China’s claims had no legal basis, a ruling the United States supports.

China on Tuesday accused the Philippines of “breaching common understandings” and heightening tension in the South China Sea after President Marcos said that a “more assertive” China presents a “real challenge” to its Asian neighbors.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said it is the Philippines that is heightening tension in the area.

Teodoro said, “Truth and in fact, no country in the world, none, supports unequivocally their claim to the whole of the South China Sea.” In contrast, he added, many countries are supporting the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines.

“Now on the Philippine side, a lot of countries support our sovereignty and jurisdiction and sovereign rights over the exclusive economic zone and other areas where we have territorial jurisdiction,” he said.

“And no country in the world, none, has condemned the Philippines on what it’s doing. That is the best proof of what I said,” he added.

President Marcos Jr over the weekend said the Philippines needs a “paradigm shift” in dealing with China, noting that diplomatic efforts to resolve the territorial dispute are heading “in a poor direction.”

Asked to comment on the President’s statement, Teodoro just said: “We are continuously in communication and we are working towards that end. That’s all can say for now.”

Chinese vessels have been harassing Philippine resupply missions to the Philippine-occupied