Palace sees no rift in PH-China ties despite Teodoro, embassy word war

Palace press officer Claire Castro answers questions during a press briefing on Monday, June 29, 2026. — Screengrab from Presidential Communications Office/Facebook MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and China’s relations remain good, despite the escalating word war between Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Chinese embassy officials, according to Malacañang. “On our part, from the Philippines’ perspective, we still consider our relationship with China to be good,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a briefing on Monday. “So there is no rift or conflict arising simply because of the statements made by our Defense Secretary,” she added. READ: DND lashes at China’s remarks on PCA ruling According to Castro, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive regarding relations with other countries, especially on matters concerning the West Philippine Sea, is that these should be pursued through diplomatic means. “We can protect our rights and fight for our interests in a diplomatic manner — that is what the President wants,” she said. The Malacañang official maintained that the Philippines has not engaged in any provocation, aggression, or intimidation against anyone’s territory. “China, as a country, is carrying out its laws and policies, and the Philippines is doing the same. Secretary Gibo (Teodoro) is simply carrying out his mandate, just as officials of China are carrying out theirs,” Castro said. In less than a month, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines issued four statements attacking Teodoro, one of the most outspoken Filipino officials who criticize Chinese intrusions and aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea — waters which form part of the South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety, but within the Philippines’ 220-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Beijing earlier this month also sanctioned Teodoro, barring him and his family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao for unspecified, allegedly “irresponsible” remarks made by the defense chief — an unprecedented move against a Cabinet member since bilateral ties were established 51 years ago. The latest word war between the Chinese embassy and Teodoro occurred on Sunday, when the Department of National Defense (DND) chief criticized the hypocrisy of Beijing in rejecting the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) statement on the 10-year-old arbitral award. The Chinese embassy in Manila earlier said it rejects the arbitration award and called it “a political manipulation disguised in legal garb.” “It clearly shows their insincerity and duplicity which are amply personified by their embassy officials. We condemn the arrogant display of deceitful indignation by them,” Teodoro said. “What they are saying is no longer believable, hence they are resorting to agitation,” he added. Despite this, Teodoro said the Philippines will not be cowed by such actions. “We will not be oppressed,” he added. READ: Tsinoy firms cheer Marcos’ China reset On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands, backed Manila’s exclusive rights to explore and exploit the natural resources within its EEZ under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), and invalidated China’s expansive claim in the South China Sea. The tribunal cited China’s lack of legal basis to assert “historic” rights to the said waters, but Beijing has since refused to recognize the ruling. The DFA maintained that the award “is final and binding and has become an unassailable part of the corpus of international law, providing legal clarity regarding maritime rights and entitlements in the South China Sea.” “It is not and will never be illegal, null, and void,” it added. — With a report from Andre Esguerra, intern The post Palace sees no rift in PH-China ties despite Teodoro, embassy word war appeared first on Inquirer.net .