Teodoro accuses China of using ‘rage bait’ to divide Filipinos

Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Thursday that China, through Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, was seeking to drive a wedge between Filipinos by using “rage bait,” with the diplomat’s statements allegedly going beyond the “realm of diplomacy.”

“Naghahamon talaga o may gusto siya (Jing) na ganoon nga ang mangyari, dahil meron silang plano, eh, parang yung nangbe-bait ba (rage bait),” Teodoro said in a radio news program.

He suggested that Jing’s controversial statements were not made without the support of government officials who have close ties with China.

“Hindi bukod-tangi sa Pilipinas yan. Ginagawa din ng ibang mga ambassador yan sa ibang mga bansa, no, na may democratic system of government. Pero, ang nagpapatapang din nito, palagay ko may facilitators din to, tsaka may supporters din to na politiko. Hindi naman natin maipagkakaila,” Teodoro said, without naming the alleged Filipino “enablers.”

“May nagbibigay tapang sa kanila. Oo, I think that's obvious that cannot be denied,” he added.

Teodoro said the Chinese official’s statements could give Beijing an opportunity to escalate tensions and deepen divisions among Filipinos.

“Ano ito, pag nagpakita ka, ang ibang mga official na ganitong opening, ito ang unang-unang gagawin nito o palalakihin nila yung hidwaan among the Filipinos. So, hindi tapang ito, may objective ito, para paghiwahiwalayin ng mga Pilipino,” Teodoro said.

He linked the alleged effort to divide Filipinos to the Philippines’ firmer stance against China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.

“Obvious, eh. Kasi bakit nila ginagawa ito sa pamahalaan? Kasi ngayon tayo naninindigan laban sa pang-aabuso nila sa West Philippine Sea. Hindi naman nila ginagawa noon yan, eh. Di ba? Ginawa nila noong panahon ni President Aquino, pero hindi ganito. Pero ngayon lang talaga nanindigan sa harapan ng pagmamalabis nila, ngayon tayo tumayo to assert our rights. So, and ito ang ginagawa nila. Ngayon, if we give them the environment na welcoming, talagang gagawin nila,” Teodoro said.

“Ilang taon na tayo tumahimik nung nakaraan, eh. Anong nangyari? Lalo lang lumala ang kanilang tangkang manakop. So, let's not make history repeat itself,” he added.

Teodoro also accused the Chinese ambassador of interfering in the Philippines’ domestic political affairs, saying the diplomat had publicly questioned his statements and attributed political motives to him.

“Itong pagmamalabis ng statements nila, ito ay labag na sa diplomacy. Bakit? Interference na sa internal political affairs ng Pilipinas. At may katibayan ako nito. Ako, ninombrahan nila a few weeks ago, my name, sinabi nila ang hinahayag ko daw sa international forums at dito ay kasinungalingan, number one. Number two, ang motibo ko daw ay personal political gain or ambition ko. So, namomolitika na sila. Labag na ito, eh. Pinaratangan mo na ng motibo ang isang opisyal ng gobyerno. So, pag ito hinayaan, magiging webpage, magiging Facebook page na ito ng pamumulitika, manonormalize ito. So, dito, lumampas na sila sa realm of diplomacy, nakikipagbardagulan na, ano ibig sabihin nun? Usapang politika na yan, eh. So, nakikialam na sila dito sa Philippine political system,” the Defense secretary said.