'More than courteous' for PH usec to meet China defense attache --Teodoro

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Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Thursday that it’s “more than courteous” that it was another department executive who welcomed China’s defense attaché during the meeting among Southeast Asian defense ministers in Cebu.

“Well, there should be some parity in rank and in stature. So, I think an undersecretary receiving an attaché, that is already more than courteous,” said Teodoro during a press briefing at the sidelines of ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).

Teodoro personally welcomed, shook hands, and took photos with defense ministers and representatives of other countries when they entered the venue earlier in the day, except China’s defense attaché to the Philippines Senior Captain Yang Lei.

China has banned Teodoro from entering its territory, and its diplomats have accused him of being "anti-China."

Tensions between Manila and Beijing continue over the contested South China Sea. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory are referred to as the West Philippine Sea by the government.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s sweeping claims over much of the South China Sea and finding no legal basis for its claim to historic rights within the so-called nine-dash line.

Moreover, Teodoro denied the latest accusation that the Philippines, which hosts the ADMM-Plus meeting, has obstructed China’s participation in the meet.

“Insofar as ASEAN is concerned, I do not believe our ASEAN member countries feel that way. If not, they would have let me know,” said Teodoro.

“So it is China's position, it is not ASEAN's position,” he added.

Teodoro made the response after Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang reportedly said that Philippines’ actions as ADMM-Plus chair undermined the inclusivity of the meet.

“No country has the right to characterize ASEAN processes except ASEAN member countries. They are dialogue partners. So as much as we would want to accommodate them, it is subject to rules and limitations,” Teodoro further responded. — BM, GMA News