At today’s Seoul Defense Dialogue 2026 held in Seoul, South Korea, when Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro was answering an audience question, someone from the CCP handed him a note “stating China’s position.” As a result, the Philippine Defense Secretary took the note and refuted it point by point in an impromptu speech. From news.com.au
I can’t watch the video right now, and won’t be able for a while; could any kind soul share what it said or link me to a written article, please?
here is the origial source of my post: https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/incredible-moment-philippine-official-reads-out-chinese-note-at-defence-summit/news-story/5557b68862f8a0392fe2c22124294067
Here’s an article discussing it.
Cleaned up from the YT transcript so it might contain inaccuracies. Block quotes used when the speaker is reading the note.
[Speaker is handed a note from China while answering a question]
So, what you’re saying, UNCLOS, you mean violates international law. That’s what you mean.
So say you.
Because you don’t want to be subjected to UNCLOS.
Of course, because you lost.
These are words slipped to me. And there is a legal principle called res ipsa loquitur. The thing speaks for itself. How can you deal with a country in an international forum beyond the question asked to me disrespecting the organizers of this forum? How do you expect to deal with it civilly? I ask you the question. Is this the right paper to post to me when I’m being asked a question on the floor? And how will you treat this kind of behavior? It not only disrespects shows, if this is a Chinese position sent to me, it not only disrespects international law. Throwing UNCLOS to the floor and trampling upon it, but it also disrespects the basic decency accorded that should be accorded to our most gracious hosts, the Republic of Korea, and the rest of the audience here. So, perhaps basic decency and behavior is what China needs to do. Now, uh Thank you very much.
[Applause]
Even Filipino, maging disente lang kayo nang konte. Mahiya naman kayo nang konte. You can translate it in your own language. Now, to go back to the question, we need to coalesce. And secondly, this is not gray zone anymore. This is actual coercion, bullying, and aggression. I will keep this paper as a memento of how desperate China is and how ineffective its position is in the face of a free audience. Thank you very much for the person who gave me this piece of paper. You just done your country a great service. Thank you. And I hope you don’t suffer in a gulag for it.
He’s at some international governance conference (sorry, I’m not informed in all the context) and the note basically scolded him for taking part in a prior vote that went against Chinese interests, and boldly ranted about how China will never accept this outcome blah blah. He boldly read the whole note and commented that no shit they won’t accept it, “because you lost.” He then called out the behavior as brazen corruption, flouting the broad authority of the international community, and called on everyone in the room to condemn it. The room applauded.