MANILA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro rejected on Saturday China's accusation that he has "consistently attacked and smeared" Beijing, branding the remarks as a "classic squid tactic" aimed at avoiding the issues at hand.
Teodoro was responding to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who on Friday said Teodoro had previously led efforts by Philippine authorities to apprehend Chinese citizens who, Beijing said, were legally working in the Philippines.
"This individual has consistently attacked and smeared China," Guo told reporters, referring to Teodoro. "What he is damaging is not only China-Philippines bilateral relations, but also the interests of the Philippine state and its people."
Teodoro, in a statement, defended the May law-enforcement operation at a steel facility in Misamis Oriental that resulted in the arrest of Chinese nationals, saying it was lawful and supported by evidence gathered through court-issued search warrants.
He cited what he said were violations involving the production of substandard, radioactively tainted steel, the dumping of polluted water, and the release of toxic emissions.
#beijing #consistently
Teodoro was responding to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who on Friday said Teodoro had previously led efforts by Philippine authorities to apprehend Chinese citizens who, Beijing said, were legally working in the Philippines.
"This individual has consistently attacked and smeared China," Guo told reporters, referring to Teodoro. "What he is damaging is not only China-Philippines bilateral relations, but also the interests of the Philippine state and its people."
Teodoro, in a statement, defended the May law-enforcement operation at a steel facility in Misamis Oriental that resulted in the arrest of Chinese nationals, saying it was lawful and supported by evidence gathered through court-issued search warrants.
He cited what he said were violations involving the production of substandard, radioactively tainted steel, the dumping of polluted water, and the release of toxic emissions.
#beijing #consistently
1 day ago
