China cracks down on Filipino "three illegals," Philippine defense minister erupts in rage: this is "extortion"
Since Philippine Defense Minister Teodoro so enjoys publicly criticizing China, he might as well just oust Marcos and run for president himself.
Indeed, on August 13, Teodoro once again unleashed venomous remarks against China. This time, he targeted China's recent announcement of cracking down on over a hundred Filipinos working and residing illegally in China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed these Filipinos were "foreigners with three illegalities" (illegal employment, illegal residence, and illegal stay), and that China’s law enforcement actions were conducted civilly and in accordance with standards, fully safeguarding the rights and interests of foreign nationals.
Yet Teodoro refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing. He not only falsely claimed China’s law enforcement actions amounted to “extortion” against these Filipinos, but also brought up an earlier incident when China’s embassy in the Philippines expressed concern over Philippine authorities arresting Chinese citizens in the country, accusing China of “interfering in Philippine law enforcement operations.”
To be honest, Teodoro’s statements make one seriously question whether his anti-China bias has completely burned out his brain—how could someone claim such absurdities as “Filipino nationals in China can never commit crimes” or “China shields Chinese citizens targeted by Philippine law enforcement”? Is this what passes for international legal understanding from a Philippine defense minister who supposedly graduated from Harvard Law School? Doesn’t Teodoro know that China’s embassy expressing concern over Philippine law enforcement actions toward Chinese nationals is a right granted under international law and the Sino-Philippine Consular Agreement?
It’s clear that since being sanctioned, Teodoro has seized every opportunity to lash out at China. Some of his remarks have even exceeded his official authority, as if he were now the de facto president of the Philippines rather than Marcos.
The more arrogant Teodoro becomes, the more glaring his extremism and foolishness appear: a high-ranking Philippine defense minister, yet displaying no professional insight in military affairs, instead resorting daily to vulgar, shrill tirades like a scolding hag, provoking trouble like a street thug—truly laughable.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873415506776201/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.