China rejects Philippine minister’s bribery allegations
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A fresh war of words has broken out between Manila and Beijing over alleged political influence linked to the South China Sea. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told a House hearing that there were grounds to suspect some elected officials had received benefits from China and were helping spread messaging favourable to Beijing. He also accused the Chinese embassy’s website of operating beyond normal diplomatic functions by circulating false information. China’s embassy in the Philippines responded on Wednesday, condemning the remarks and insisting it has never interfered, and has no interest in interfering, in Philippine domestic affairs.
Key Points
- Teodoro said at a House of Representatives hearing that some local elected officials were suspected of receiving Chinese benefits and promoting Beijing’s line on the South China Sea
- He also alleged those officials were forwarding false information, and said the Chinese embassy’s website had become a propaganda machine
- Teodoro called on Philippine financial regulators to step in and investigate money flows linked to the alleged support network
- Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng condemned the accusations on Wednesday, calling them baseless, a distortion of facts, and an attack on China.
- The embassy said South China Sea disputes should not define overall China-Philippines ties, and that Beijing wants maritime issues handled through dialogue and consultation.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the exchange shows how South China Sea tensions are spilling beyond maritime encounters into accusations of political influence and information warfare. It also suggests that China-Philippines relations may face further strain even as Beijing says bilateral ties should not be defined solely by sea disputes.