Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. said he would only consider engaging in talks with his Chinese counterparts if there was “a semblance of good faith and sincerity” from Beijing amid renewed tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Teodoro told reporters in a chance interview on Sunday night, following the signing of the Philippines-Canada Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), in response to recent statements from China’s defense ministry accusing the Philippines of “blackmailing” China and warning Manila to “change its ways or suffer the consequences.”

“The Minister of Defense of China came out with a statement that we have to mend our ways or suffer the consequences, and that the Philippines is blackmailing China. Would you talk to or would you offer to talk to somebody who slammed your country that way? Of course not,” Teodoro told reporters.

The defense chief emphasized that genuine dialogue requires mutual respect and sincerity.

“I mean, I would be willing to talk if there was a semblance of good faith. If there was a semblance of sincerity, I would talk to them—why not? But you would talk to them the day after they said you were blackmailing China and that you should mend your ways?,” he lamented. 

Teodoro likened Beijing’s posture to offering to hold talks while simultaneously making threats.

“Can you imagine they would say—gusto gamin makipag-usap, mabait kami and on the other hand, sasabihan ka ng ganoon? Sampal sa mukha ‘yun—kaya hindi ko tatangapin (‘we really want to talk, we’re nice,’ and then on the other hand, they’d say something like that to you? That’s a slap in the face—that’s why I won’t accept it),” Teodoro further pointed out. 

The defense chief also recalled his remarks during an earlier forum where he underscored the need to “resist unilateral bullying,” referencing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s own call at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

“President Xi said: We must resist unilateral bullying. So we just followed what he said. Why are we the ones resisting? They don’t want to,” Teodoro quipped.

Asked about China’s response to his statements, Teodoro said.

“None. The script was not ready.”

The Philippines and China have been locked in a series of maritime disputes in the WPS, with recent incidents involving Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels escalating tensions between the two countries.