Gibo slams China’s aggression vs Phl fishermen

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. has slammed China’s latest acts of aggression near Escoda Shoal and denounced Beijing’s foreign ministry for spreading lies to justify the China Coast Guard’s water cannon attack on Filipino fishermen.

- By MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

“The Department of National Defense strongly denounces the dangerous and inhumane actions taken by Chinese maritime forces against Filipino fishers in the vicinity of Escoda Shoal,” Teodoro said yesterday, while accusing the Chinese foreign ministry of lying when it claimed the Filipino fishermen were armed with knives and were aggressive.

“China’s claims of indisputable sovereignty over the feature are illegal and unfounded as neither an international tribunal nor international law-abiding State has ever recognized Chinese sovereignty over Escoda Shoal,” he added.