Manila: The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday strongly criticized Chinese commentaries that questioned the Philippines' right to oversee security in foreign-linked cultural and academic exchange programs. The DND highlighted the contradiction in state-controlled entities like Jinan University, which advocate for "academic fairness" and "academic freedom" while operating within a framework that suppresses free speech and criminalizes dissent.
According to Philippines News Agency, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized the importance of public scrutiny and institutional transparency regarding foreign state funding in local education. He stated that these measures are crucial for safeguarding both academic integrity and national security. The DND also condemned China's approach to international engagements, comparing it to their unilateral stance in the West Philippine Sea, where China demands control without respecting international law.
The statement from the DND came after reports from SeaLight, a maritime transparency initiative, indicated that Jinan University is the largest training site for Chinese teachers in Chinese language schools across the Philippines. SeaLight also alleged that Jinan University is closely linked to China's political influence networks.
Academics from Jinan University previously claimed that Batanes, a province in northern Luzon, is part of China, leading to strong protests from the Philippines. The DND expressed grave concern over the risks posed by foreign legal frameworks, particularly under China's National Security Law, which obligates citizens and institutions to cooperate with state intelligence.
The DND highlighted concerns over coercive laws, like ethnic unity mandates, which impose state control over ethnic groups and assert extraterritorial reach. The DND noted that foreign state-controlled outlets, under the guise of cultural and academic exchanges, have questioned Philippine territorial sovereignty by making unlawful claims over the Batanes Islands.
The DND stressed that oversight of academic symposiums used to challenge sovereign borders is not politicization but a necessary act of public defense. Security evaluations are targeted at foreign influence and interference, not at the Filipino-Chinese community, whose cultural heritage is vital to Philippine society.
The DND reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to genuine international academic cooperation based on the rule of law, mutual respect, and a steadfast devotion to national sovereignty.
