Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, dismissed China’s claim that the Philippines was at fault for the recent collision between two Chinese vessels near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying he would not dignify what he described as a “blatant lie.”

“They can say what they want but who’s more credible at the end of the day? I’m already tired of contradicting. I don’t want to answer a blatant lie and glorify it. Everybody knows the truth, really,” he told reporters during an interview after the ceremonial exchange of notes for the entry into force of the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) building in Pasay City.

Teodoro was reacting to a remark of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lian Jian, who blamed the Philippines for the collision of a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship and a Chinese navy destroyer off Bajo de Masinloc on Aug. 11.

The two Chinese vessels were chasing Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Suluan when they crashed into each other after performing dangerous maneuvers.

“The Philippines’ moves seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, and seriously harmed peace and stability at sea. These moves are of a malign nature,” the Chinese official said.

However, Teodoro stressed that the Philippines would not recklessly provoke a conflict, especially as a smaller country compared to China.

“Why will we pick a fight? That’s what the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] said yesterday. Who is in his or her right mind will initiate a conflict when you are a smaller country? Common sense, unless they don’t have any,” he noted.

Teodoro said he has no idea if there were casualties on the Chinese side due to the incident.

“I have not received any report regarding that but if there really are casualties, it’s their fault,” the defense chief noted.

When asked if his pronouncements on China were aggressive, the defense chief replied: “If they cannot handle those statements, that goes to show you what kind of people you are dealing with. If the truth hurts, then it’s your problem, not us.”

He noted that it’s not only the Philippines that China has “problems” with. He mentioned that China is also in conflict with Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France.

China pointing fingers to the Philippines for its own miscalculation exposes Beijing’s habit of labeling critics as “provocateurs”, Teodoro added.

He said this is the reason why the Philippines is forging partnerships with “like-minded” countries, such as Japan, to strengthen deterrence efforts in the face of shared challenges posed by China, describing the Asian superpower as "summa cum laude of revisionism in international law and bad behavior."

Asked if he plans to change his tone when speaking about China, Teodoro was emphatic: “Why will I change my tone? That’s my right as a Filipino and my obligation as a secretary of defense. They [China] should be the ones to change their tone. I’m not out of tune, they are.”

Meanwhile, the defense chief said the DND will work with the DFA and Japanese government to finalize pending component agreements ahead of the RAA's official entry into force on September 11. Some of those include pacts on troop access and logistics, and the creation of joint bodies that will oversee combined training and operations between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF).