Officials in the Philippines condemned China’s decision Friday to impose sanctions on Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., calling Beijing’s actions “an unfriendly act” that threatens to worsen diplomatic ties between the nations, while Teodoro pledged to keep protecting Manila’s interests against Chinese aggression.
Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed Thursday that Teodoro and his relatives are now prohibited from traveling to China, Hong Kong, and Macao due to what officials characterized as “irresponsible remarks” that damaged China’s interests.
China’s government additionally barred any Chinese individuals or organizations from conducting business with Teodoro and his family members “to uphold China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named him defense chief in June 2023, Teodoro has emerged as a prominent opponent of China’s conduct in the contested South China Sea region and toward Taiwan.
Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that while China has the right to impose such penalties, the Philippines considers the move “as an unfriendly act that further complicates the bilateral relations.”
“Such measures do not contribute to building mutual trust, managing differences responsibly or creating the conditions necessary for constructive engagement between our two countries,” the foreign affairs department said.
Teodoro pledged to maintain his responsibilities to the Philippines and stated that China’s penalties highlighted “what they do to those who speak the truth against their deception.”
Beijing has previously targeted a former Philippine senator with sanctions, along with American and European leaders, for activities China considered contrary to its objectives, including human rights issues.
The former Philippine senator, Francis Tolentino, authored legislation that confirmed the Philippines’ maritime boundaries and resource rights, including areas in the South China Sea. China asserts control over nearly the entire disputed region.
Marcos ultimately enacted Tolentino’s legislation.
In previous statements, Teodoro described China’s broad South China Sea claims as “the biggest fiction and lie” and specifically criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Chinese Communist Party allies for Beijing’s hostile and unlawful strategies.
“It’s caused by Xi Jinping and his abusive ways … that would possibly destroy his leadership of his party in China and the goodwill that was nurtured by his predecessors,” Teodoro told reporters.
Teodoro has spearheaded initiatives to strengthen Manila’s military and security partnerships with the United States, the Philippines’ long-standing treaty partner, including expanding yearly military training exercises with U.S. forces that now feature joint maritime patrols and operations in the South China Sea.
He has also worked to establish military cooperation agreements with allied nations such as Japan, France, Canada and New Zealand, which he believes will help counter China’s aggressive behavior.
