It is in this context that strong condemnation was issued by the Philippines against China's actions over the West Philippine Sea, citing protection of territorial integrity and sovereignty. According to Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro of the Department of National Defence, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are resolved to oppose China's "dangerous and reckless behavior" in the region.
"China's dangerous and reckless behaviour in the West Philippine Sea shall be resisted by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). Their behaviour contravenes their statements of good faith and decency. We will exert our utmost to fulfill our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights," said Gilberto Teodoro, Secretary of the Philippines' Department of National Defence (DND).
Teodoro said that China remained the greatest challenge to peace and stability in the South China Sea, reiterating long-standing concerns about the expansive maneuvers of Beijing in the area. On another note, he registered during the forum of public concern that tensions came about because of China's strong insistence on treating the "illegal ten-dash line" as its territory.
"China wants us to go to the small details to forget the main message. The main message is: The ten-dash-line is the provocation. And everything flows from that," Teodoro emphasized to reporters.
He further criticized China's presence in the West Philippine Sea and other Philippine jurisdictions, affirming, "They have no business being anywhere in the West Philippine Sea and other areas where we have jurisdiction. They are trying to bait us by straying from the main points and dragging us into an action-drama debate, where we focus on minor details which stray us from the main message. Let's stick to the message."
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