Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday rejected the claim that the government is targeting Chinese schools after a number of teachers left the Philippines.

Amid the country’s struggle to defend its maritime territory, reports have surfaced regarding the departure of 150 teachers from the Immaculate Conception Academy in San Juan City and Jubilee Christian Academy in Quezon City, and their return to China, reported RH 52 Edniel Parrosa.

Teodoro said he had only criticized Jinan University in Guangzhou in connection with, firstly, its claim that Batanes, as a “natural geographical extension” of Taiwan, belongs to China, and its training programs in the Philippines.

“Parehong institusyon ang pinanggagalingan ng false narrative na pinaninindigan ng Chinese Embassy ngayon, at ng ibang Chinese-language teachers—hindi lahat,” Teodoro stated.

Retired US military colonel and maritime security expert Ray Powell had also spoken on the issue, although the Defense chief has stressed that the Philippines has conducted its own examination of it.

Teodoro’s statement comes in response to the ACT Philippines’ condemnation of an earlier statement linking Chinese-Filipino schools and exchange programs to espionage, which they described as appearing to echo the United States’ agenda.