War of words between China and Philippines over disputed waters claims

China on Wednesday accused the Philippines of “stirring up trouble” after harsh words from Philippines Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr. over Beijing’s increasingly aggressive pursuit of maritime claims in the South China Sea. Teodoro was addressing a defense forum in South Korea on Tuesday, stressing the need to uphold a 2016 ruling by an arbitration panel that China’s claims had no legal basis, when a person came on stage and handed him a note that Teodoro said came from China. Reading from the note, the minister said it said “China neither accepts nor recognizes” the arbitration ruling. “Of course,” he […]