Philippines Secretary of National Defense (SND) Gilberto Teodoro Jr. rebutted questions posed by some Chinese military officials regarding the West Philippine Sea as “propaganda” during a defense forum in Singapore.
In a open source report Teodoro made the statement at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) after a Chinese military official asked why the Philippines could not be like its neighboring countries, citing Malaysia and Vietnam, which engaged in dialogue on territorial issues and instead engaged in what he said were confrontations.
“Why can’t the Philippines do the same? Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar (Ibrahim) mentioned he, otherwise, your President to engage dialogue and communication with China. So, will the Philippines follow his advice and change his current approach to the South China Sea issue or that the Philippine intent to act as a proxy for external powers?” said Senior Colonel Qi Dapeng, a professor at the National Security College and National Defense University in China.
“The United States is sending more arms to this region and setting up more military bases in the Philippines. Are you concerned that a proxy war in Asia might be launched?” asked Senior Colonel Zhang Chi, an associate professor at the same school.
In response, Teodoro said, “Thank you for the propaganda spiels disguised as questions. Let us not forget that while we are members of (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), we are sovereign countries, each with its own territorial integrity and sovereignty. And I’m sure that if what China is doing to the Philippines is done to Malaysia or to any ASEAN country, you would see a different reaction.”
+ There are no comments
Add yours