The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) criticizes the Chinese Embassy in Manila for rejecting the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) reaffirmation of the 2016 Arbitral Award concerning the West Philippine Sea. The DND says the embassy’s response reflects China’s intentions toward the Philippines. DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also characterizes the Chinese Embassy’s position as showing “insincerity and duplicity,” echoing the DND’s view that the reply offers a “window into the true intentions of the Chinese Communist Party” in dealing with the country.
The dispute centers on China’s refusal to recognize the 2016 Arbitral Award even after the DFA reiterates the award. In its June 23 statement, the Chinese Embassy rejects the reaffirmation and describes the award as “political manipulation disguised in legal garb,” adding that it is “illegal, null and void.” The Philippine government maintains that the arbitral ruling remains a key legal reference for the maritime issue, while China continues to contest it through statements made in response to the DFA’s actions.
