US Ally Calls China's Complaints 'Gutter-Level Talk'

The defense chief of the Philippines clapped back at the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday after it made disparaging remarks about the U.S. ally's president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said China's ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was engaging in the type of "low and gutter-level talk" Manila had come to expect from Beijing, which had lashed out at Marcos—suggesting he "go back to school"—after he congratulated Taiwan for holding successful democratic elections last weekend.

Philippines-China relations are at a low point as Marcos draws closer to Mutual Defense Treaty ally the United States and takes a harder line on China's sweeping territorial claims in the contested South China Sea.

Beijing's stated rights to nearly all of the energy-rich waters have long been a sore point for Manila. The lingering issue has stumped past leaders, including Marcos' predecessor, largely because China's claims expand into the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive economic zone, where the two countries' coast guards have experienced dramatic confrontations in the past year.

The diplomatic tit-for-tat continued on Tuesday when Beijing took aim at Marcos for congratulating the victor of Taiwan's presidential election, Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

The Philippines, like most countries in the world, has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, although it shares robust economic ties. Mao warned Marcos was "playing with fire," comments Teodoro said were "on brand."

"It is unfortunate that the [People's Republic of China] Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stooped to such low and gutter-level talk—resorting to insulting our president and the Filipino nation and further debasing herself, the ministry, and party she represents in the process," Teodoro said.

"But then again, we should not at all be surprised—being a nation and people enjoying the privileges, rights, and freedoms of a democratic society—that an agent of a party and system of government incompatible with our way of life and who routinely spouts state-sanctioned propaganda and disinformation would go that far and that low," he said.

The Chinese government accused Marcos of violating its one China principle, under which Beijing expects formal diplomatic partners to back its position that Taiwan is part of China.

Vice President Lai was Beijing's least preferred candidate in the island's three-way contest that concluded without incident on Saturday. Chinese officials previously called him a "destroyer of peace" due to independence-leaning views he had expressed while serving as Taiwan's premier in 2017.

Despite China's sovereignty claims over Taiwan, the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing has never governed there.

The Philippines has engaged in a name-and-shame campaign to publicize China's activities within its EEZ, which have included blocking Philippine supply runs to a grounded warship and outpost at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands archipelago.

Manila cites an international tribunal's 2016 ruling at The Hague that dismissed China's sweeping claims. However, China refused to participate in the proceedings and has continued to disregard them since, citing unspecified historical rights to the South China Sea instead.

Both sides have called for a new code of conduct in the waters, where maritime zones and territories are contested by half a dozen nations, although each government has also said they would be unwilling to cede ground on the territorial issue.

Nong Rong and Theresa Lazaro, China's assistant foreign minister and the Philippine's foreign affairs department undersecretary, respectively, met at Shanghai on Wednesday to deescalate tensions.

"Both sides agreed to deal calmly with incidents, if any, through diplomacy. They also agreed that continuous dialogue is important to keep peace and stability at sea," Manila's foreign affairs department said in a statement.