Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday slammed China's narratives about its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
In a press conference, Teodoro lambasted China's recent remarks that the Philippines is "stirring up trouble" when it conducts maritime air patrol with the United States in its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
"Sino ba ang nananakop, sino ba ang kumukupkop sa (Who's the invader? Who claims the entire) South China Sea? Particularly in the West Philippine Sea? It is China. The Philippines is not stirring up trouble, this is a reverse of the truth, it's an absolute falsity for China to say that and it is once again reversing the truth consistent with its narrative," Teodoro stressed.
The defense chief's remarks came after China called out the Philippines-US Maritime Cooperative Activity, held in the waters off Batanes and areas in WPS.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mao Ning on Wednesday warned the two countries that their joint naval patrol "near Chinese territorial waters should not harm" Beijing's sovereignty and maritime interests in the SCS.
Teodoro, in response, said: "The Philippines is not stirring up trouble as we always reiterate our interests are to protect our rights in accordance with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and international law— which China purports to respect in words but unfortunately not in deeds."
"So whatever China says about this, I think their credibility is very very low," he continued.