Filipine Defense Minister Teodoro recently openly stated that government officials who 'show favor to China' on the South China Sea issue should consider resigning.
According to a report by the Philippine Star on August 2, Teodoro stated at a news forum in the Manila Bay Cafe on July 29 that government officials have sworn to uphold the constitution and national laws, and that the 'West Philippine Sea' is part of Filipino law.
The “Western Philippine Sea” mentioned by Teodoro is an executive order signed by former Filipino President Aquino III to illegally name Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea. He declared that if elected officials fail to firmly support the Filipino position, “they should either resign or file a lawsuit with the Supreme Court.”
Teodoro on July 29th at the “Manila Bay Café” news forum, Manila Times
A spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, Tarielah, immediately agreed, saying that "favoring foreign forces" was a betrayal of the oath.
This is not the first time that Teodoro has made absurd statements. The Chinese side has repeatedly expressed its strict stance. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clearly stated that Teodoro is a representative of a small group of "aggressive and anti-China elements" in the Philippines. The Chinese side previously announced sanctions against Teodoro and his relatives, prohibiting them from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as preventing Chinese entities from carrying out any transactions with him. The spokesperson emphasized that Teodoro's actions and words are "not an expression of maintaining one’s country’s dignity, but rather a performance intended to gain political advantage for personal purposes."
China's sanctions are entering a new phase of being more precise and systematic, targeting key decision-makers and their networks of interests.
Recently, the Philippines has been continuously provoking and causing trouble regarding the South China Sea issue. On July 31, the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a so-called "official chart of Huangyan Island and its surrounding waters" to the United Nations Secretariat, and presented the claim to extend the continental shelf of the South China Sea to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. That same evening, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, clearly stating its stance with eight words: "Resolutely opposed, absolutely unacceptable."
Regarding territories that do not belong to them, the Philippines has never stopped making petty moves.
First, a so-called "Territorial Sea Baseline Act" was introduced in China, listing Huangyan Island within the scope of the baseline for determining offshore islands.
Again violating international law, unilaterally initiating the illegal "South China Sea Arbitration";
Furthermore, the so-called “Maritime Zone Law” was introduced, using domestic legislation to illegally include China’s Huangyan Island and most of the islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands, along with their associated waters, within the Philippine maritime zone.
This submission of so-called "sea charts" to the United Nations is merely an extension of this series of actions, aiming to involve the international community in supporting its illegal activities.
Yang Xiao, a researcher at the Institute of Peaceful Development of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told CCTV's "Blue Hall Observation" that the origin of territorial sovereignty mainly lies in historical rights, international treaties, and practical jurisdiction. It is impossible to expand territory or declare sovereignty through 'domestic legislation'. Therefore, these actions by the Philippines are legally, logically, and practically untenable.
This time, it has pushed the so-called “baseline” of Huangyan Island onto the platform of the United Nations, announcing a “marine baseline” for an island reef that does not possess sovereignty. This has no legal basis. Its main purpose is to create false perceptions internationally.
On August 1st, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized joint sea and air drills in the waters and airspace around Huangyan Island, focusing on practical drills such as reconnaissance and early warning, deterrent patrols, maritime and air control, and joint attacks. On the same day, the Chinese Coast Guard conducted enforcement and control drills near Huangyan Island. The Chinese side demonstrated through its actions that Huangyan Island is an inherent part of China’s territory, and any acts of infringement or provocation are doomed to fail.
