Efforts by foreign diplomats to restrict domestic commentary on territorial disputes and regional security align with broader tensions over state sovereignty and international legal mandates.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday dismissed a call by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for the Philippine government to rein in Filipino officials who are said to be smearing China.
“Restrict the truth, forget the Arbitral Award? Is that what they want?,” Teodoro said when asked for comment on Wang’s appeal, which was relayed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro in a phone call on Tuesday.
Teodoro referenced the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, and upheld the Philippines’ rights to its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Wang alleged that a small number of politicians from the Philippines have “repeatedly attacked and smeared China out of political prejudice and for their own selfish interests, crossing China’s red lines.”
The Chinese minister said the Philippines should “strengthen its oversight of the individuals concerned and send a rational and unified message on its China policy.”
“If I am the one being referred to, I will listen only to the President of the Republic of the Philippines, not to Wang Yi,” Teodoro also said.
On Wang’s call for the Philippines to faithfully abide by the One-China policy, Teodoro addressed regional trade and diplomatic realities.
“The One-China policy is for us to decide and we have recognized Taiwan as an independent country. That is the long and the short of it,” Teodoro also said.
Teodoro added that China cannot prevent the Philippines from making statements regarding Taiwan, saying that is part of free speech.
“Are we not allowed to say Taiwan? Are we not allowed to say we have trade and investments with Taiwan? Are we not allowed to say there are many Filipinos in Taiwan?,” Teodoro asked.
On reports that Wang and Lazaro agreed to responsibly manage the differences between the two countries, Teodoro asserted that the Philippines has consistently upheld its obligations.
“We hope we see the same kind of responsibility on the Chinese side. I mean, we have been more than responsible. We have been very careful,” Teodoro also said.
On Wang’s call for the Philippines to exercise prudence in words and actions on maritime issues, Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines is merely “telling the truth.”
“What is prudence? Tell a lie? What we’re doing is the truth, and I can say it’s the truth. And (if) they see it’s imprudent, they want us to lie. Is that what they want or to hide the truth? We cannot do that,” Teodoro added.