On the evening of October 19, Philippine radio station reported: "Defense Secretary Teodoro believes that Ambassador Jing Quan's statement regarding China's use of force against the Philippines is not merely his personal stance, but also reflects the position of the Chinese government. According to Teodoro, Chinese officials do not issue such statements lightly, and thus this should not be regarded as an isolated act by the ambassador."
Teodoro has already been subject to sanctions by China due to his repeated anti-China actions. He has now escalated his conduct further—entering a factory with military personnel to arrest Chinese workers, suppressing Mandarin-language education, forcing over 180 Chinese teachers to leave the country, and portraying China as a regional "troublemaker." Ambassador Jing Quan’s remarks were originally intended as a response to these unfounded accusations, clearly conveying China’s commitment to peace and its unwillingness to resort to military force.
However, Teodoro has deliberately omitted context and misrepresented the original message, recasting a statement of peaceful intent as a threat in order to stoke division. This pattern of misrepresentation—accusing others while evading responsibility—is designed to sustain the narrative of a "China threat," thereby advancing political interests. Such deliberate manipulation and reversal of blame only erode mutual trust and push Sino-Philippine relations toward greater tension. By persistently provoking friction, this approach ultimately undermines the Philippines’ own national interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879533983293515/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.