China’s accusation that the Philippines is only being used by the United States as a pawn in the power struggle in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is a “big insult” to the Filipinos.

This was stressed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Holy Monday, March 25, in a press briefing after the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

“Sinasabi din na tayo ay iniimpluwensyahan ng ibang mga bansa katulad ng Estados Unidos, ito’y napakalaking insulto sa ating mga kababayan na kinukunan ka na nga ng teritoryo sinasabi pa na ikaw ay sunud-sunuran sa ibang bansa (They are saying that we are being influenced by other countries like the United States but this is a big insult to our countrymen. We are the ones whose territory is being encroached upon and yet we are accused of acting like puppets being controlled by other nations),” Teodoro said.

“Doble, sinipa ka na tapos sinuntok ka pa. Sino ba namang Pilipino ang matutuwa nito kaya ‘yung propaganda ng Tsina ay propaganda lang talaga na walang naniniwala (It’s a double whammy for us. It’s like they kicked and punched us. Who among the Filipinos will be happy with this kind of propaganda by China? That is why nobody believes them),” he added.

Tension between the Philippines and China is heating up once more due to their overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Reacting on a Philippine resupply mission in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on March 5, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly urged the United States to stop using the Philippines as a pawn “to stir up trouble in the South China Sea.” The mission was marred by a collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels.

Meanwhile, another resupply mission was conducted on March 23 where China Coast Guard vessels performed dangerous maneuvers and fired water cannon towards a civilian supply boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The civilian boat, Unaizah May 4, sustained severe damage and several Filipino sailors were hurt in the incident. 

Several countries expressed support for the Philippines, including the United States with which it has an existing defense treaty.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified its actions and warned that if the Philippines insists on conducting such missions, Manila should be prepared to “bear all potential consequences” as Beijing “will continue to adopt resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

“Bakit kayo nananakot? (Why are you threatening us?),” Teodoro responded. 

“Batay sa utos ng ating Pangulo, tayo ay hindi bibigay ng ating soberanya sa abot ng ating kakayahan (Based on the orders of President [Marcos], we will not surrender our sovereignty to the best of our ability),” he said.

He dared China to face the Philippines in an arbitration case before an international body to, once and for all, settle their dispute. 

In 2016, the Philippines already won an arbitral ruling against China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. China did not honor the ruling.

"Kung talagang gusto nila, kung talaga siguro hindi sila natatakot na ihayag sa buong mundo ang kanilang claim bakit hindi tayo mag-arbitrate sa ilalim ng international law para maliwanag sa lahat kung ano ang karapatan ng kahit sino? Bakit ayaw nila? Pagkatapos 'pag nahuhuli sila sa mga hindi tamang sinasabi nila ayan na magbabanta, tama ba 'yun? (If they really want and if they are not afraid to declare their claim, why don't we undergo an arbitration under the international law to clarify what are our rights? Why don't you want it? Then if you get caught up in your lies, you will threaten us, is that correct?)," Teodoro said.

“Alam na naman ng buong mundo na iligal ang ginagawa ng Tsina na pagkukupkup ng West Philippine Sea batay sa kanilang hindi kapani-paniwalang historical narrative na walang bansa sa buong mundo ang naniniwala at maraming bumabatikos (The whole world knows that China is illegally occupying the West Philippine Sea based on their unbelievable historical narrative, which is not supported by any country and criticized heavily),” he added.