The Chinese regime has imposed sanctions on Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the foreign ministry announced on June 11, a rare step as tensions between Beijing and Manila flare.
The sanctions bar Teodoro, his spouse, and children from entering China and ban organizations and individuals within China from engaging in transactions or cooperation with the Philippines defense chief, according to a statement from the regime’s foreign ministry.
Without offering any specific examples, the Chinese foreign ministry accused Teodoro of repeatedly making “erroneous remarks” related to China, which allegedly undermined Beijing’s interests and damaged bilateral relations.
Teodoro’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
It’s unusual for Beijing to target an incumbent high-ranking foreign official at Teodoro’s level with sanctions.
Teodoro had previously shrugged off a potential entry ban to China.
“I have no assets in China, and I have no plans to go there,” he said on June 3 after a local media report—citing anonymous sources—said that China had imposed such a ban on him and his family.
“Even if I wanted to visit because the food is delicious and the people are kind, that is overshadowed by the kind of government they have,” Teodoro told reporters in the southern Philippines’ Cagayan de Oro City, according to a translation.
Located west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, Scarborough is rich in natural resources and a vital fishing ground for local Filipino villagers. International law recognizes the area as part of the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone, but China has effectively seized control of the feature since 2012.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in late May, the Philippine defense chief criticized the Chinese regime’s refusal to recognize the 2016 arbitration ruling, but called on the Philippines to return to negotiations to solve the dispute.
For China, negotiations are “not a path to conflict resolution but a means of gaining advantage,” Teodoro said in prepared remarks. “And we must, we will not be deceived.”
On the sidelines of the security forum, Teodoro told Reuters that his country must stand up to the Chinese regime’s aggression.
“For countries like the Philippines, though, which is under severe threat territory-wise and politically too by China, we have no choice but really to be resilient and to stand up against Chinese aggression,” Teodoro said in Singapore.
In 2023, Manila summoned then-Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian after Beijing announced sanctions on a former Philippine senator for his remarks related to China.