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The Philippine authorities said Friday (June 12, 2026) that China's imposition of sanctions, including an introduction ban, against Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was “an unfriendly act” that could further strain relations, portion helium vowed to proceed defending Manila's involvement against Beijing's aggression.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs successful Beijing announced Thursday (June 12) that Mr. Teodoro and his household person been banned from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macao, implicit what it described arsenic “irresponsible remarks” helium has made that undermined Beijing's interests.
The Chinese authorities besides prohibited individuals and groups successful China from having immoderate transaction with Mr. Teodoro and his household “to uphold China's sovereignty, information and improvement interests.” Mr. Teodoro, who was appointed defence main by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr successful June 2023, has been 1 of the astir vocal critics of China's actions successful the disputed South China Sea and against Taiwan.
The Department of Foreign Affairs successful Manila said imposing sanctions was China's prerogative but that the Philippines viewed it “as an unfriendly enactment that further complicates the bilateral relations.”
“Such measures bash not lend to gathering communal trust, managing differences responsibly oregon creating the conditions indispensable for constructive engagement betwixt our 2 countries,” the overseas affairs section said.
Mr. Teodoro said helium would proceed to transportation retired his duties for the Philippines. He besides said successful the connection that China's sanctions underscored “what they bash to those who talk the information against their deception.” China has imposed sanctions connected a erstwhile Philippine legislator past year, arsenic good arsenic against U.S. and European officials successful the past, for actions that Beijing deemed spell against its interests and actions, including connected quality rights.
The erstwhile Philippine senator, Francis Tolentino, was the writer of 2 bills that reaffirmed the grade of the Philippines' maritime territories and close to resources, including successful the South China Sea. China claims the disputed waterway astir successful its entirety.
Mr. Marcos yet signed the 2 bills into law.
Last year, Mr. Teodoro called China's expansive claims successful the South China Sea “the biggest fabrication and lie” and singled retired Chinese President Xi Jinping and his supporters wrong the Chinese Communist Party for what helium called Beijing's assertive and amerciable policies.
“It's caused by Xi Jinping and his abusive ways that would perchance destruct the enactment of his enactment successful China and the goodwill that was nurtured by his predecessors,” Mr. Teodoro told reporters.
Mr. Teodoro has led efforts to deepen Manila's defence and information engagements with the United States, the longtime pact state of the Philippines, including by broadening yearly combat exercises with American forces that present see associated naval patrols and drills successful the South China Sea.
He has besides led efforts to forge visiting forces agreements with affable countries including Japan, France, Canada and New Zealand which helium said would assistance summation deterrence against China's assertiveness.
