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Philippines Defense Ministry Rejects China's Interference, Vows No Surrender

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Philippine Department of National Defense has strongly criticized China's embassy in Manila for interfering in the country's internal affairs.
  • The dispute centers on the arrest of Chinese nationals involved in alleged illegal activities, with the Philippines accusing China of harboring them.
  • The Philippines asserts its right to enforce its laws and will not be intimidated by foreign pressure.

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has issued a firm response to China's embassy in Manila, denouncing its public questioning of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.'s authority. The DND stated that China's actions constitute a blatant interference in the Philippines' internal affairs and emphasized that the nation is not obligated to account for its law enforcement actions to any foreign government.

The Chinese embassy's demands are a blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Philippines and an abuse of constitutional freedoms. No foreign government, especially China, has the right to demand that the Philippine Department of National Defense account for itself.

— Arsenio AndolongPhilippine DND spokesperson responding to China's criticism.

The conflict escalated following a raid in May by Philippine authorities, with military assistance, on Sanjia Steel Corporation in Misamis Oriental. The operation led to the arrest of several Chinese nationals accused of illegal activities. Secretary Teodoro Jr. publicly accused the Chinese government of "actively harboring" these individuals, who allegedly produced substandard, radiation-contaminated steel and discharged toxic waste.

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Manila issued statements, with spokesperson Ji Lingpeng accusing Teodoro Jr. of "anti-China activities" and questioning his involvement in a police operation as a defense chief. China also criticized the DND's response as evasive and deceptive, demanding Teodoro Jr. address all queries directly.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry's latest statement against me is a typical squid tactic, spreading false information in a way that evades the issue.

— Gilberto Teodoro Jr.Philippine Defense Secretary accusing China of using diversionary tactics.

Philippine DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong retorted, calling the Chinese embassy's statements evasive and offensive. He asserted that the Chinese embassy should be the one scrutinized for allegedly harboring illegal activities within Philippine territory. Andolong characterized China's approach as a typical tactic to evade issues, equating it to a "guilty plea" in legal terms. He reiterated that no foreign government, particularly China, has the right to demand explanations from the DND, and the Philippines will continue to enforce its laws and combat illegal activities to defend its sovereignty.

The Chinese embassy's statements are evasive and offensive. The Chinese embassy should be the one scrutinized for allegedly harboring illegal activities within Philippine territory.

— Arsenio AndolongPhilippine DND spokesperson criticizing the Chinese embassy's response.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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