Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday accused Beijing of “evading the crucial issue” following a dispute over the arrest of 69 Chinese workers allegedly handling hazardous materials at a steel facility in Misamis Oriental.
Teodoro issued the response after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warned that the defense chief’s criticisms harm bilateral relations, adding that “it is interests of the Philippines and all its people that will bear the brunt.”
Guo also alleged that Teodoro personally led the operation against the workers at Sanjia Steel Corporation, a firm owned by Tony Yang, brother of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang. Teodoro previously noted that the raid uncovered “grave crimes committed against Filipinos by the Chinese principals of Sanjia under the notorious Tony Yang and his dummies.”
Rejecting Beijing’s claims, Teodoro maintained that the law enforcement action was grounded in evidence. “Were these individuals involved in illegal activities?” Teodoro said. “The plain and simple answer is yes, unless Chinese officials consider the regurgitation of substandard, radioactively tainted steel, the destruction of the environment by dumping untreated, polluted water into rivers, and the release of untreated toxic fumes to be legitimate practices.”
He noted that these findings are supported by “indisputable and legally admissible evidence” gathered under valid court warrants.
Dismissing the remarks from Beijing, Teodoro characterized the statement as “a classic squid tactic, disinformation through avoidance” and condemned the foreign ministry’s warnings.