During a high-level session at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on September 8, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. turned a standard diplomatic encounter into a masterclass in public pushback.
After receiving a note from a Chinese delegate reiterating Beijing’s rejection of the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling—which invalidated China’s expansive territorial claims in favor of Philippine sovereign rights—Teodoro dismantled the argument line by line. Addressing the room, he delivered a sharp, unscripted quip: “Of course, because you lost.”
He went on to accuse Beijing of systemic coercion and bullying before the international forum hosted by South Korea. In an emotional shift, Teodoro switched to Filipino to urge a standard of basic decency, noting that he planned to keep the physical note as a permanent memento of China’s desperation. The room erupted into strong applause from the international audience.
MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO | Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. responded to a note from the Chinese side during the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2026 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.#DNDPHL #DiKaPasisiil #SDD2026 pic.twitter.com/fsCRVphkgf
— Department of National Defense – Philippines (@dndphl) September 8, 2026
Defense analysts and diplomatic observers view the exchange as an extraordinarily candid stand against Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. Rather than letting standard diplomatic talking points slide, Teodoro’s swift rebuttal reinforced Manila’s commitment to international law and demonstrated a growing willingness to challenge Beijing openly on the global stage.