China, Philippines exchange sharp words about South China Sea

China and the Philippines have exchanged sharp words about the disputed South China Sea, with their latest spat coming after the Philippine defense chief said he received a note from Beijing during a defense forum in South Korea.

Videos of the Seoul Defense Dialogue on Tuesday showed Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. receiving a note from China while answering a question.

The note contained remarks concerning the disputed South China Sea, according to Teodoro. He responded to the claims one by one as he read them aloud.

"China's position on the South China Sea arbitration is clear, consistent, and firm," said the note. Teodoro responded that Beijing has "no position."

He read from the note: "The arbitration violates fundamental principles of international law." Teodoro responded: "So what you signed, UNCLOS, violates international law," in reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

A 2016 decision by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded China's maritime claims in the South China Sea were not valid.

"The so-called award is illegal, null, and void," the note said. Teodoro replied. "So say you, and (it) has no binding force because you don't want to be subjected to UNCLOS."

"China neither accepts nor recognizes the award," he read from the note. Teodoro responded. "Of course, because you lost."

Teodoro called the note "actual coercion, bullying, and aggression," adding that he would keep it as a memento of "how desperate China is."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a news conference Wednesday that she was "not sure what exactly happened at the event, but China’s position has always been clear on the so-called 'South China Sea arbitration.'"

Manila "unilaterally initiated the case, which is a distortion and abuse of the UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanism," she said, accusing the Philippines of violating UNCLOS and undermining "its integrity and authority."

She urged Teodoro to "cut the provocations and theatrics, and stop undermining China-Philippines relations and stability in the South China Sea."

The incident comes amid persistent tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, where the two countries have repeatedly confronted each other about competing territorial claims.

The area is one of the world's busiest trade routes, with trillions of dollars in annual trade.