South China sea tensions: China slams Philippines on clash

China has accused Philippines of grandstanding and lying and this comes after Manila defense secretary lambasted Beijing's stance on the tensions in South China Sea. In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has urged Philippines to stop the grandstanding and lying. It also called out officials at Manila to protect the China-Philippine relations and the peace and stability in the South China Sea. The foreign ministry statement comes after Philippines defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro read out a Chinese diplomat's note on the situation in the South China Sea at the Seoul defense dialogue. The defense secretary described the note as coercion, bullying and aggression. Teodoro read out parts of China's rejection of the South China Sea arbitration and a statement that denied Beijing's claim in South China Sea as illegal, null and void. The Philippines defense secretary also said that the diplomat's note shows disrespect for international law. Now, according to South Korean media reports, the diplomat's note came from a military attaché in the Chinese embassy in Seoul. It said that the Chinese diplomat asked a forum member of the Seoul defense dialogue to pass the note to Teodoro and following this, Philippines foreign ministry said that they respect the statement and views of the defense secretary.