Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has rejected China’s criticism, calling it a ‘squid tactic’ aimed at avoiding the issues at hand. Teodoro was responding to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who accused him of consistently attacking and smearing China.
Background
The dispute follows China’s confirmation that its immigration authorities had taken action against more than 100 Philippine nationals for illegally working or living in China. Teodoro had condemned China’s action, describing it as ‘plain and simple extortion and blackmail’.
Teodoro also defended a May law-enforcement operation at a steel facility in Misamis Oriental that resulted in the arrest of Chinese nationals, saying it was lawful and supported by evidence gathered through court-issued search warrants. He cited violations involving the production of substandard, radioactively tainted steel, the dumping of polluted water, and the release of toxic emissions.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
