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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gibo blasts China over comment on beached warship: Hyprocritical!

Gibo blasts China over comment on beached warship: Hyprocritical!

Published Sep 23, 2023 06:18 am
Gibo.jpg
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (File photo)

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. unleashed a barrage of stinging words on China after its foreign ministry spokesperson claimed that BRP Sierra Madre was dumping sea waste in the South China Sea (SCS).

BRP Sierra Mare is a Philippine Navy warship that was deliberately ran aground in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in 1995 to serve as an outpost of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The statement of China that the grounded Sierra Madre is causing irrevocable harm is to put it as politely as possible – hypocritical. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black,” Teodoro said on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Teodoro was reacting to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning’s statement that BRP Sierra Madre was discharging polluted water into the ocean.

This, after the Office of Solicitor General bared that is considering the filing of a lawsuit against China before an international court for allegedly destroying coral reefs in at least two key features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The AFP’s Western Command (WesCom) based in Palawan and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) earlier revealed that coral reefs that were once abundant in the seabed of Rozul (Iroquios) Reef and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal have been destroyed.

The AFP and PCG suspected that the destruction of the marine environment in Rozul Reef and Iroquios Reef may have been linked to the swarming of Chinese militia in the area. 

Teodoro had said he wanted to conduct an investigation to determine whether the harvesting of corals is linked to alleged illegal reclamation of artificial islands by China within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“China continues to damage the WPS by its illegal reclamation activities in the SCS and it was found to be a violator of international law in the 2016 Arbitral Award when such activities damaged the marine environment,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro said that China’s remarks were nothing but mere “propaganda” to veer away the international attention on their illegal activities in the WPS.

He warned that if China continues to issue similar rhetoric, it may taint the relations of China not only with the Philippines but with other countries.

“Disingenuous propaganda lines such as this only serve to expose China’s insincerity and will only heighten the mistrust by the Filipino people and the rest of the world of the Chinese Government,” Teodoro said.

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Gilberto Teodoro Jr. DND West Philippine Sea
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