Philippines Defence Chief Teodoro Confronts China Memo Onstage; Calls It ‘Coercion, Bullying and Aggression’ (Video)
Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr confronted China after a memo asserting Beijing’s position on the South China Sea dispute was handed to him during a panel at the Seoul Defense Dialogue. Teodoro read the memo aloud and called the move 'actual coercion, bullying and aggression,' adding in Filipino, 'Have some shame.'
Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr confronted China during an international security forum after a memo asserting Beijing’s position on the South China Sea dispute was handed to him while he was onstage. Teodoro read the document aloud and described the move as “actual coercion, bullying and aggression,” before adding in Filipino, “Have some shame.”
The incident occurred Tuesday, September 8, during a panel discussion on gray zone coercion in the South China Sea at the Seoul Defense Dialogue. Teodoro was speaking alongside the South Korean and Czech defense ministers when an event staffer delivered the note to his table. China Expels Politburo Member Ma Xingrui Amid Corruption Scandal and S*x Charges.
Philippines Defence Chief Slams China on Stage at Seoul Forum Over South China Sea Note
MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO | Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. responded to a note from the Chinese side during the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2026 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.#DNDPHL #DiKaPasisiil #SDD2026 pic.twitter.com/fsCRVphkgf
— Department of National Defense - Philippines (@dndphl) September 8, 2026
What Happened At The Seoul Defense Dialogue?
A video of the incident shows a staffer placing the note in front of Teodoro while the Philippine defense chief was answering a question. Teodoro paused, identified the document as being from China and proceeded to read its contents line by line.
According to Teodoro, the memo stated that “China's position on the South China Sea arbitration is clear, consistent, and firm” and argued that “the arbitration violates fundamental principles of international law”.
The note also said that “the so-called award is illegal, null, and void and has no binding force”. It further stated: “China neither accepts nor recognises the award and opposes it and will never accept any claim or action arising from it.”
Teodoro Calls Move ‘Coercion, Bullying And Aggression’
After reading the document, Teodoro rejected the characterization of the dispute as merely gray zone coercion. “This is not gray zone any more. This is actual coercion, bullying and aggression,” he said. He then told the Chinese officials responsible for the note, “Have some shame.”
Teodoro said he intended to keep the document. “I will keep this paper as a memento of how desperate China is and how ineffective its position is in the face of a free audience,” the secretary said. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
What Did China Say About The South China Sea Arbitration?
The memo challenged the 2016 arbitration ruling concerning competing claims in the South China Sea. The case was brought by the Philippines under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 in favor of the Philippines on key aspects of its case, including finding that China's claims based on the so-called nine-dash line were incompatible with the convention.
China has consistently rejected the arbitration ruling and has said it does not accept or recognise the award. The memo delivered to Teodoro reiterated that position, saying China “neither accepts nor recognises the award” and would reject claims or actions arising from it.
Who Delivered The Memo?
South Korea’s Yonhap News reported that the memo was written by a military attaché at the Chinese embassy in Seoul. According to the report, an event staffer mistook the document for a note from the Philippine delegation and handed it directly to Teodoro while he was speaking onstage. The unusual delivery turned a written diplomatic message into a public exchange during the forum.
Why Are China And The Philippines At Odds?
The incident comes amid longstanding tensions between Beijing and Manila over competing territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea. The two countries have repeatedly clashed over access and activities in disputed waters, with Manila citing the 2016 arbitration ruling and Beijing rejecting the decision.
The dispute has also become a wider security issue as the Philippines strengthens defense ties with the United States and other partners.
Teodoro Has Previously Criticized China
Tuesday's confrontation was not the first time Teodoro has publicly criticised Chinese officials at an international security forum. At the Shangri-La Dialogue last year, the Philippine defense chief criticised what he called “propaganda spiels disguised as questions”.
His latest remarks came after China imposed sanctions on Teodoro months ago, accusing him of making statements that damaged bilateral ties and increased tensions. Teodoro is the most senior Philippine official known to have been sanctioned by Beijing.
The public exchange is likely to add another point of friction to already strained relations between Manila and Beijing. For the Philippines, the 2016 arbitration ruling remains a central reference point in its position on maritime rights. China, meanwhile, continues to reject the award and maintains its longstanding claims in the disputed waters.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2026 12:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
