Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro publicly criticised China after a note carrying Beijing’s position on the South China Sea was handed to him while he was speaking at a defence conference in Seoul. Instead of putting the document aside, Teodoro stopped his speech and read the message aloud to the delegates. He then questioned China’s decision to send such a note during an international forum hosted by South Korea.

The incident took place during the Seoul Defence Dialogue in South Korea. Teodoro was addressing the gathering when a document was handed to him from behind. Reportedly, the document was linked to a Chinese military attaché based at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul. The attaché had given the note to an event staff member and asked it to be passed to Teodoro. The staff member apparently thought the document came from the Philippine delegation and handed it to the secretary while he was speaking.

Teodoro paused to examine the paper before addressing the audience. “I have a note here; I think this is from China. And may I read it?” he told the gathering before reading the contents. The note repeated Beijing’s position on the long-running South China Sea dispute. It said China’s position on the arbitration case was “clear, consistent and firm”. It also maintained that the 2016 tribunal ruling went against fundamental principles of international law.

The document referred to the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS. In 2016, an international tribunal rejected key parts of China’s broad claims based on historic rights in the South China Sea. The tribunal also ruled that China had no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources within areas covered by the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

China has consistently rejected the 2016 ruling. Beijing has argued that the tribunal did not have jurisdiction over the issues involved and continued to stand by its position on the disputed waters. The arbitration award remains an important part of the Philippines’ legal and diplomatic position in its dealings with China.

After reading the note, Teodoro shifted his attention to the manner in which it was delivered to him. He questioned why Beijing chose to deliver the message while he was speaking at an international defence gathering in South Korea. He argued that the action was not only a matter of disagreement over the South China Sea. He said the manner of delivery also showed disrespect towards the host country, the event organisers and the delegates attending the forum.

“How can you deal with a country in an international forum, beyond the question asked to me, disrespecting the organisers of this forum,” he said.

Teodoro then connected the incident to the larger issue of international maritime law. He criticised China’s rejection of the 2016 arbitration ruling and said the approach reflected a wider disregard for international rules. He argued that countries must respect established legal frameworks when dealing with disputes at sea.

“If this is a Chinese position sent to me, it not only disrespects international law, throwing UNCLOS to the floor and trampling upon it,” Teodoro said, arguing that it also showed disrespect to South Korea and those attending the event.

The Philippine defence secretary also described what he saw as China’s conduct as “coercion, bullying and aggression”. He said Beijing should instead show “basic decency and behaviour”. Teodoro held up the document during his remarks and said he would keep it as a reminder of what he described as China’s desperation and the weakness of its position in front of an international audience.

He also made a pointed comment about the person who helped deliver the document. Teodoro said the individual had “done your country a great service”. He added that he hoped the person would not face severe punishment for passing the note to him.

The confrontation comes as tensions between the Philippines and China continue in the South China Sea. Manila has repeatedly raised concerns about Chinese activities in waters it considers part of its territory or its exclusive economic zone. Beijing continues to claim large parts of the disputed waterway.

The 2016 arbitration award remains central to the Philippines’ efforts to challenge China’s maritime claims. China continues to reject the verdict. Teodoro said at the Seoul forum that the Philippines faces challenges from China on a daily basis. He said these developments have encouraged Manila to strengthen its security partnerships with other countries.

Teodoro also warned against efforts by any country to claim an international maritime area for its exclusive use. He stressed the importance of protecting shared international spaces and following established rules.

“We live in a very interconnected world,” Teodoro said, stressing that no state should be entitled to appropriate an international common in a manner contrary to established international norms.

The unusual exchange turned a defence conference into a public confrontation over the South China Sea dispute. Teodoro used the moment to challenge Beijing’s position before an international audience.