China Hits Philippines Defense Chief with Sanctions
In a formal statement, China's Foreign Ministry said Teodoro had "repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China" that undermined Beijing's legitimate interests and "sabotaged" China-Philippines ties.
Under the sweeping measures, Teodoro, his spouse, and child are barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Chinese organizations and individuals are also prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation or other activities with them, according to the ministry.
The announcement came days after Teodoro delivered sharp criticism of Beijing at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, where he accused China of seizing territory in the disputed South China Sea and suppressing its own population during a heated exchange with Chinese military representatives.
During a panel discussion, two senior officers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army challenged whether the Philippines would serve as a US proxy in Asia or pursue a more cooperative relationship with China. Teodoro firmly rejected the characterization and stood by Manila's security partnerships.
The Philippines is one of Washington's oldest allies across the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning strongly reacted to Teodoro's remarks in Singapore and said he "repeatedly made fallacious remarks" about China, which she claimed have severely undermined China-Philippines relations and mutual trust, adding that his statements run counter to the interests of the Filipino people.
Neither Teodoro nor the Philippine government issued an immediate response to China's latest sanctions announcement.
Relations between Beijing and Manila have sharply deteriorated in recent years, driven by increasingly frequent confrontations in the South China Sea, where overlapping territorial claims have fueled mounting accusations of provocative actions around disputed reefs and shoals.
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