China has rebuked the Philippines for what it called « diplomatic theatrics » after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. publicly rejected Beijing’s position on the South China Sea during the Seoul Defense Dialogue. Teodoro read and rebutted a message from China regarding the 2016 arbitration ruling on the sea dispute, accusing Beijing of « coercion, bullying and aggression. » The incident occurred despite Teodoro already being sanctioned by China since June, which bars him and his family from entering Chinese territory. Analysts view the confrontation as a symptom of existing tensions rather than a cause for escalation, noting that both governments seek stability in the relationship while maintaining their respective positions on the territorial dispute.
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