The Chinese Embassy in Manila slammed Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro for his supposedly "unprofessional and ludicrous" remarks against China, which they perceive to contradict the Marcos administration's policy of deescalating tension between the two countries.

The Embassy's spokesperson said this after Teodoro called out the Communist Party of China for criticizing the Philippines' "modest capability development" while China continuously builds up its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capability, sponsoring criminal syndicates and subversive organizations beyond their shores, and being unwilling to uphold human rights in their own country.

In a statement on Christmas Day, the Chinese Embassy described Teodoro as "biased" against China.

"Philippine Secretary of National Defense baselessly smeared China and maliciously attacked the Communist Party of China. We firmly oppose and strongly condemn such [a] statement which is nothing but [an] unjust accusation filled with ideological bias and based on bloc confrontation and the Cold War mentality," it said.

According to the Embassy, this was not the first time Teodoro made what it described as "unprofessional and ludicrous" remarks.

"In addition to habitually attacking and smearing China and its ruling party, he personally impedes and obstructs mil-to-mil contacts and exchanges between China and the Philippines," it said.

The Embassy also slammed Teodoro for saying that "discussions and consultations are the most useless phrase" in maritime dispute settlement.

"Such words run counter to President Marcos Jr’s instruction to deescalate maritime tensions through dialogue and contradict both countries’ relentless diplomatic efforts to manage differences through communication and consultation," it said.

"We cannot help but wonder why and for whom he has been saying and doing in such an unconstructive way," it added.

Teodoro's recent statement against China stemmed from China's opposition to the deployment of US mid-range missile assets to the Philippines in the context of joint exercises. The Defense Secretary said this was legitimate, legal, and beyond reproach.

In its statement, the Chinese Embassy maintained Beijing's position in the deployment of the said system and urged the country to pull it out.

"Our part of the world is in need of peace and prosperity, not Mid-Range Capability missile system or confrontation," it said.

"We remind the Philippines to heed the call of regional countries and their peoples and have the Typhon missile system promptly pulled out as it has publicly pledged, and stop going further down the wrong path.