Chinese Embassy blasts Teodoro as 'anti-China' over remarks on WPS, steel plants

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The Chinese Embassy on Sunday once again hit out at Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., accusing him of attacking China at a forum on Saturday.

In a statement, the embassy called Teodoro "extremely anti-China" and said he has been "smearing" China in an "attempt to gain political capital and serve his personal gains."

"What he said concerning China disregards the facts, distorts right and wrong, and seeks to disrupt and undermine China-Philippines relations," it said.

At the forum, Teodoro discussed various illegal activities allegedly involving Chinese nationals, including the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and the proliferation of substandard steel plants.

He said that he is investigating "nefarious" foreign activities in the country and that Beijing continues to exert pressure on Philippine interests.

Teodoro also warned that China was attempting to create a “Sinocentric” world.

While he said he did not want to foster a culture of sinophobia in the Philippines, the defense chief argued that any such sentiment would be a consequence of the actions of the Chinese Communist Party.

"He aims to drive a wedge between the peoples of the two countries and stoke confrontation between China and the Philippines and their peoples. But such attempts are doomed to fail," the Chinese Embassy said.

The Chinese Embassy made the statement on the same day it hit back at the US Embassy after the latter sided with the Philippines over Beijing's reported interference in a recent rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal.

Guo, substandard steel

Alice Guo, the former Bamban mayor, is serving a life sentence for qualified human trafficking in connection with POGO activities in the town. Also known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, she has also been accused of spying for China, an allegation she has denied.

The factories recently raided by authorities for substandard steel products, meanwhile, are believed to have been used as a possible point of entry for Chinese nationals who want to illegally enter and stay in the Philippines, according to the military.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that the problem is "bigger than most people know," citing the danger of using substandard steel as building material.

China, meanwhile, has targeted Teodoro in its attacks, barring him and his family from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and saying he distorts the facts on the West Philippine Sea encounters as well as the arrests of the Chinese steel workers. — BM, GMA News