Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro read a note from a Chinese military attaché during his Seoul Defense Dialogue remarks, rebutted Beijing’s objections to the 2016 South China Sea arbitration, and accused China of coercion in disputed waters.
A Chinese military attaché handed Teodoro a note during his speech at the Seoul Defense Dialogue that repeated Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration.
Teodoro read the note aloud, rebutted its claims point by point, and called China’s actions in the South China Sea coercion, bullying, and aggression.
The episode reflects continuing tensions between Manila and Beijing over maritime claims, including recent confrontations at Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal.
# What happened
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro was speaking at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on maritime security and international law when a forum staff member handed him a written message. The note originated with a Chinese military attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul and challenged the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea.
Teodoro read the note aloud to the audience, then answered its arguments directly. He accused Beijing of disregarding the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and described China's conduct in disputed waters as coercion, bullying, and aggression. After reading Beijing's objections — including the claim that the arbitration violated principles of international law and had no binding force — Teodoro replied bluntly: "Of course, because you lost."
# What the note said and Manila's response
The note reiterated China's long-standing position that the 2016 arbitral award is illegal, null and void, and not binding. China argues the tribunal lacked jurisdiction and that the procedure contravened principles such as state consent.
Teodoro rebutted those claims on the spot. He characterized the delivery of the note during a public forum as disrespectful to the host country and as an attempt to undermine international law. He held the note up, accused Beijing of abandoning international norms to press maritime claims, and used strong language about coercive behavior at sea.
# Context: recent tensions in the South China Sea
Tensions between Manila and Beijing have risen in recent months. Reported incidents include Chinese vessels using water cannons against Philippine government ships near Scarborough Shoal and an episode at Second Thomas Shoal that left a Filipino sailor injured. China and the Philippines dispute control over features and waters where Beijing has constructed and, in some cases, militarized artificial islands.
China maintains broad maritime claims defined by its so-called nine-dash line and has consistently refused to accept the 2016 arbitral tribunal's finding that those historic claims lack legal basis under UNCLOS.
# Diplomatic and defense implications
The public confrontation at an international forum makes the dispute more visible. Manila has simultaneously expanded defense cooperation with the United States, conducting maritime exercises that underline closer security ties as tensions with Beijing grow.
China's embassy spokesperson reiterated Beijing's established position after the incident: the arbitration is invalid, the award has no binding force, and China will not accept claims based on it.
# Political ripple effects in the Philippines
# Bottom line
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro sharply rebuked China during an international security forum in Seoul after a Chinese military attaché sent him a note challenging the landmark 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling while he was speaking. The confrontation took place on Sept. 8 during the Seoul Defense Di
Gilberto Teodoro read aloud a note from China handed to him mid-speech at the Seoul Defense Dialogue, calling it actual coercion and bullying.
China on Wednesday accused the Philippines of "stirring up trouble" after harsh words from Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr. over Beijing's increasingly aggressive pursuit of maritime claims in the South China Sea.
China has accused Philippine officials of “grandstanding and lying” after Manila’s defence secretary publicly read aloud a Chinese diplomat’s note on the South China Sea that the Philippine minister described as “coercion, bullying and aggression”. “We urge certain people in the Philippines to stop this grandstanding a
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