Philippine defence chief calls out China’s ‘bullying’ over South China Sea

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Tenzin Nyidon

DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 9: A dramatic diplomatic confrontation unfolded at a defence forum in Seoul on Tuesday after Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was handed a note from Chinese representatives while he was speaking about the South China Sea dispute.

Teodoro read it aloud before the audience and then publicly challenged China’s position, which reiterated Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling that found China’s sweeping claims in the disputed waters had no legal basis. “I have a note here. I think this is from China. And may I read it?” Teodoro said before reading the message, which ...

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