By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Mincing no words, Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has assailed Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning for insulting President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. and by stooping to what he called “low and gutter level talk.”

Teodoro was reacting to Mao’s statement on Tuesday (January 16) suggesting that “Marcos read more books to properly understand the ins and outs of the Taiwan issue.”

“It is unfortunate that the PRC 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,” the DND chief said in a statement on Wednesday (January 17).

He accused Mao of “spouting State-sanctioned propaganda and disinformation.”

The China foreign ministry spokesperson made a scathing remark after Marcos Jr. congratulated Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-Te.

In PBBM’s social media accounts, Marcos Jr. posted on January 15 that he is looking forward “to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead.”

Maharlika NuMedia gathered that there are more than 154,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working and living in Taiwan which is considered by China as its “renegade province” and aiming to reclaim it, by force if necessary.

In reaction, Mao disclosed that Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong on Tuesday (January 16) summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz “to lodge serious démarche and urge the Philippines to present a responsible response to China.”

“We suggest President Marcos read more to develop a proper understanding of the ins and outs of the Taiwan question and come to a right conclusion,” Mao said in a briefing.

The defense chief quipped that while it is unfortunate that the Chinese official resulted to insulting Marcos Jr., he was no longer surprised by this.

“It is unfortunate, but I am, myself, unsurprised. The spokesperson’s statements were ‘on brand.’ We, and the world, should not expect more,” Teodoro said.

(el Amigo/MNM)