On September 8, at the 2026 Seoul Security Dialogue (SDD) held in Seoul, South Korea, Philippine Defense Minister Teodoro made a big deal out of a note during a panel discussion, engaging in personal attacks and malicious speculation against China.
This incident, due to live broadcasting and the public video released by the Philippine Ministry of Defense, quickly became one of the most notable highlights of this year's Seoul Security Dialogue.
According to Yonhap, Teodoro received a written document during his speech. He read it out loud and claimed that it came from the 'Chinese side'. The content of the document reiterated China's position on the 2016 South China Sea arbitration case.
The Philippine Defense Minister was presented with a note on the spot, which contained information consistent with China's public stance.
China's position on the South China Sea arbitration case is clear, consistent, and public. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassies and consulates have repeatedly stated that the ruling of the temporary arbitral tribunal in the 2016 South China Sea arbitration case seriously violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and general international law. Such a ruling is illegal and invalid. China does not accept, participate in, recognize, or execute such rulings. This position has solid legal grounds and is understood and supported by many members of the international community.
Teodoro responded to each point. Regarding “illegal and invalid”, he said: “That is your claim.” Regarding “non-binding”, he shouted: “Because you don’t want to be bound by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” Regarding “neither accepting nor acknowledging”, he added: “Of course, because you lost.”
He asked in a showy manner: Was it appropriate to present such a document while answering questions on the spot? "Perhaps what China needs is basic manners and behavior. In Filipino, he said, 'Maging disente lang kayo nang konti, mahiya naman kayo nang konti.'"
Teodoro was insistent, and even joked that the person delivering the item would be sent to a labor camp, which actually earned some applause from the audience.
In response to the claims of Teodororo regarding "gray-zone coercion" and "bullying" made in the forum, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in the Philippines have repeatedly stated that China's activities in the South China Sea are entirely within its sovereign boundaries and comply with international law. The so-called "coercement" is a false accusation against China, aimed at creating excuses for external forces to intervene in South China Sea affairs. China has always been a firm defender of peace and stability in the South China Sea. It adheres to resolving disputes through bilateral negotiations and friendly consultations, and actively promotes discussions on a "South China Sea Code of Conduct" with ASEAN countries.
Teodoro's speech has obvious flaws: first, it involves transferring a sovereignty dispute that should be negotiated bilaterally to a third-party forum, which is emotional in nature; second, it uses personal ridicule instead of policy debates, which violates diplomatic etiquette; third, it portrays a note reaffirming official positions as an "on-site pressure tactic," which is essentially a tactic used in public opinion warfare.
The Korean Herald also pointed out on the 8th that no senior Chinese officials attended this forum. The note was passed on by staff members, and it was not the Chinese side that interrupted the agenda or forced someone onto the stage.
It is worth noting that Teodoro has been listed on the Chinese sanctions list due to his wrongful actions regarding the South China Sea issue. This time, he once again made unfounded accusations against China at a multilateral forum, indicating his determination to continue down the wrong path. The Chinese side urges Filipino officials to take historical facts and international legal principles into consideration, stop exploiting the South China Sea issue in international forums, and return to the correct track of managing differences through dialogue and negotiation.
China and the Philippines are neighbors separated by the sea. Maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is in line with the fundamental interests of the people of both countries. China is willing to work with the Philippines towards common goals, in order to jointly maintain long-term stability in the region. However, China reserves the right to respond appropriately to any acts of open provocation, distortion of facts, or slander against China.
As of the time of publication, Chinese officials have not given any official response to this incident. The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has also not issued any detailed instructions regarding the procedure for submitting the report.
