Gibo slams Chinese foreign ministry

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. slammed the spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for issuing statements that he said insulted President Marcos and the Filipino people.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

"It is unfortunate that the PRC (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,"  he said in a statement issued late last night.

The Chinese embassy in Manila earlier yesterday singled out Marcos as the only head of state to congratulate Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te among 182 countries which established diplomatic relations with China.

Furious over the President's congratulatory message, China again lashed out, saying it sends "erroneous signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces." The comments also warned the Philippines "not to play with fire" and advised Marcos to "read more" on China-Taiwan history.