The Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday rejected the Chinese Embassy’s latest statement, saying the Philippine defense agency is under no obligation to answer questions from any foreign government or embassy.
“It is the Chinese Embassy that is under scrutiny and being questioned here for its apparent coddling of illegal activities within the sovereign territory of the Philippines,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
Andolong issued the statement after the Chinese Embassy raised several questions about the May operation at Sanjia Steel Corporation, where Philippine authorities, with the involvement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, arrested Chinese workers.
In a statement on Sunday, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng questioned Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s involvement in the May raid at the steel plant.