China lambasts Philippine defence chief over remarks about Chinese 'threat'

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told ‌Reuters on Saturday that China remains a "severe threat" with no show of long-term good faith despite ⁠Beijing ​recently offering fertiliser ⁠and fuel during war-related shortages. The Chinese foreign ⁠ministry said those remarks demonstrated that Teodoro is "solely ​driven by personal interests" and had disregarded ⁠the well-being of the population.

China ​accused the ​Philippine defence chief of ‌having no ​gratitude for key Chinese commodities and of ‌using issues about people's livelihoods for political showmanship, after remarks about China being a ‌threat. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told ‌Reuters on Saturday that China remains a "severe threat" with no show of long-term good faith despite ⁠Beijing ​recently offering fertiliser ⁠and fuel during war-related shortages.

The Chinese foreign ⁠ministry said those remarks demonstrated that Teodoro is "solely ​driven by personal interests" and had disregarded ⁠the well-being of the population. "If such individuals ⁠are ​allowed to act as they please, how will China continue to ⁠provide aid and supplies to the Philippines?" ministry ⁠spokesperson ⁠Mao Ning told reporters at a Tuesday briefing.