This is a masterclass on how to deal with Xi’s China. You have to publicly expose Beijing’s bullying & hypocrisy. Backroom diplomacy & flamboyant summitry simply doesn’t work. Ever.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro accused China of coercion, bullying and aggression after being handed a note from a Chinese military attache at a Seoul forum. The note rejected a 2016 ruling that found Beijing’s sweeping South China Sea claims had no legal basis.
🔴Chinese Military official who passed a note to Philippine defence Chief mid-speech gets schooled
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Nothing hits China harder than a smaller nation speaking to them in the only language they understand.
Philippine rocks!!!
These guys refused to take China's bullying.
A Chinese official attempted some of that Wolf Warrior Diplomacy ™ shit. It did not go well.
This guy responding is our kindred spirit.
Philippines' Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro was speaking up for smaller nations and international law at a forum in Korea when a staff member handed him a note from a Chinese official.
It was meant to be intimidating. But Teodoro just read it all out, eviscerated it line by line, and called the Chinese official out on their disrespect - both to international law and their Korean hosts.
China wanted to reiterate that it rejects a UN ruling on the South China Sea.
“Of course, because you lost,” says Teodoro.
“This is actual coercion, bullying and aggression. I will keep this paper as a memento of how desperate China is and how ineffective its position is in the face of a free audience. Thank you very much for the person who gave me this piece of paper.”
That’s exactly how you deal with this kind of modern day imperialist nonsense. Call it out. Don’t play by their game. Stubbornly stick to your values.
And now millions of people around the world have got to hear all this in what should have been a pretty dull regional forum heard by policy wonks.
"Thank you,” Teodoro adds, “and I hope you don't suffer in a gulag for it."
TEODORO RECEIVES ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ LETTER FROM CHINA
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. showed the handwritten letter he received from the Chinese delegation at the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2026 in Seoul on Tuesday.
The letter, which stated China’s position on the 2016 Arbitral Award, was handed to Teodoro after his speech at the forum. “The so-called award is illegal, null and void,” the note read.
Teodoro read the letter and gave an on-the-spot response, asserting, “This is actual coercion, bullying, and aggression. I will keep this paper as a memento of how desperate China is and how ineffective its position is in the face of a free audience.” (Facebook/Department of National Defense)
🇵🇭🇰🇷 We, the people of South Korea, stand firmly with the Philippines and condemn China’s attempts to encroach upon the territory and sovereignty of other Asian nations.
The Philippines was one of the first countries to come to South Korea’s aid during the Korean War and was the first country in Southeast Asia to answer the UN’s call for military assistance.
A total of 7,420 Filipino soldiers served in the Korean War, and 112 gave their lives fighting alongside us against North Korean and Chinese Communist forces.
We will always remember the courage and sacrifice of the Filipino soldiers who stood with South Korea in our darkest hour, fighting alongside us and making the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
We will always stand in solidarity with the Philippines. Together, we will stand against the Chinese Communist Party and defend the freedom and sovereignty of our nations.
We, the Korean people, stand with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.
We send our love and deepest gratitude to the Philippines.
We will never forget. 🇰🇷🇵🇭