On July 20th, the Love Reef action reached the expected effect.
A “secret letter” allegedly signed by the Philippine Defense Minister Teodoro has been spread online recently. It describes the provocative actions taken by the Philippines near Renai Reef two months ago. The letter also claims that the United States is the “top priority” in the Philippine national security strategy. Without military, intelligence, and logistical support from the United States, the Philippines cannot effectively protect its so-called maritime interests.
However, the Philippine Ministry of Defense quickly denied this, stating that the letter and its contents were “entirely false and fabricated.” They also requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to take action in the investigation.
According to the Philippine Daily Forum on July 31st, a letter circulating online with signatures supposedly from Teoдоро was addressed to Peter Enzminger. The Philippine Star reported that Enzminger is a CIA official who worked on the Renhe Reef operation, Philippine-US security cooperation, and multiple sensitive political issues within the Philippines.
The signature at the end of “Secret Letter” is Theodoro.
The most noticeable part of the letter is the description of the operation on July 20th at Renai Reef. The letter claims that the Philippine side’s actions that day “achieved the desired results”, thereby allegedly exposing China’s violent law enforcement and bullying behavior. The reason Teodoro approved this operation was to create a stir regarding China’s “strong actions” before the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Regarding what exactly happened near Ren'ai Reef on July 20th, the Chinese side has already given a detailed response.
On July 21, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated at a regular press conference that when Chinese coast guards were carrying out normal rights protection and law enforcement activities near Ren'ai Reef, the Philippine side illegally stationed two warships nearby. They deliberately sent two small boats to approach and collide with Chinese vessels in a dangerous manner, and violently attacked Chinese law enforcement officers. As a result, China had to respond firmly according to the law. However, afterwards, the Philippine side distorted the facts and engaged in sensationalized publicity. China has already expressed its solemn protest to the Philippine ambassador to China.
Lin Jian emphasized that Ren'ai Reef is part of the Chinese Nansha Islands and constitutes Chinese territory. In 1999, a Philippine warship illegally ‘stationed’ on Ren'ai Reef on the grounds of being stranded. Since then, China has repeatedly requested the Philippines to remove the ship, and the Philippines has also made several promises, but it has never fulfilled them over the past 27 years. China urges the Philippines to immediately stop any provocative actions at sea and false propaganda. Otherwise, all consequences arising from these actions shall be borne by the Philippines.
If the matter related to Ren'ai Reef is already quite noticeable, then the content regarding the United States in the letter is equally intriguing.
In the document, in Teodoro's voice, the United States is considered the "top priority" in the Philippines' national security strategy. For the Philippines to effectively safeguard its so-called maritime interests, it is indispensable to receive "military, intelligence, logistical, and strategic support" from the United States.
The letter also stated that, regardless of any changes in the political situation in the Philippines, support for the Philippines-US alliance will remain unchanged.
In addition, the document also covers domestic political issues in the Philippines, such as the impeachment of Vice President Sarah Duterte.
On September 29, the Philippine Ministry of Defense denied this publicly.
Filipino Defense Ministry spokesman Arsenio Andolong said that this was a "forged" letter, and both the document and its contents were "clearly and completely false". The Philippine Defense Ministry has handed this matter over to the National Investigation Agency to investigate the source and dissemination of the document.
Andolon also described the appearance of this letter as another instance of “foreign interference and malicious influence,” claiming that its purpose was to smear the actions of the Philippine government in upholding so-called “national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
However, the Philippine Ministry of Defense has not stated who actually created or spread this ‘secret letter’, nor has it published any evidence to prove that the alleged ‘foreign interference’ comes from where it claims.
Secret Messages Perhaps Fake, But Tokodo's Anti-China Act Has Never Been Secret.
Just a few days ago, Teodoro also claimed that the Philippine government was investigating so-called foreign “malicious activities”, and once again emphasized the so-called “China threat”, stating that China is trying to establish a world “centered around China”.
On September 27, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines responded to Teodoro's recent remarks regarding China: This person is extremely anti-China and has long been attacking and slandering China, attempting to gain political advantage for his own interests. His remarks about China ignore facts and distort the truth, aiming to disrupt and undermine Sino-Filipino relations, sever the friendship between the Chinese and Filipino peoples, and create opposition between the two countries and their peoples. Such attempts are destined to fail.
