China bans Philippine defence chief over South China Sea remarks
Beijing barred Gilberto Teodoro and his family from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau as maritime tensions with Manila continue.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
China has barred Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his family from entering the country, citing his comments about Beijing’s South China Sea claims. The move adds another point of friction to a dispute that has repeatedly brought Chinese and Philippine vessels into confrontation.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that Teodoro, his wife and his children are banned from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The ministry also said “organisations and individuals in China” may not conduct “any transaction, cooperation or other activities” with Teodoro, his spouse or his child.
The ministry accused Teodoro of damaging China’s interests and relations with the Philippines through his public remarks. It did not identify the specific comments that led to the sanctions.
There was no immediate response from Teodoro or the Philippine government.
Teodoro had dismissed reports of a ban
Reports last week had suggested China might restrict Teodoro’s entry. In response, Teodoro told local media outlet ABS-CBN that he had no property in China and did not intend to travel there.
“I have no assets in China, and I have no plans to go there,” ABS-CBN quoted him as saying. He added that any interest in visiting China because of its food and people was outweighed, in his view, by “the kind of government they have.”
Teodoro has been a prominent critic of Beijing’s actions in disputed waters. At a defence and security forum in Singapore last month, he said the Philippines “will not sacrifice our territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
Asked last week about Teodoro’s comments at the forum, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said he “is known to vilify China.” Mao accused him of pursuing “selfish personal gains” and engaging in “political theatrics” even when public welfare was at issue.
Dispute centers on strategic waters
The South China Sea is claimed in part by several governments, including the Philippines. China says it has sovereignty over almost the entire waterway, a position rejected by a 2016 international ruling that found Beijing’s sweeping claims had no legal basis.
China has continued to send navy and coast guard vessels into contested areas, according to the account reported by AFP, AP and Reuters. Those deployments have been used to block Philippine access to reefs and islands that Manila considers important.
Ships from the two countries’ coast guards, militaries and civilian fleets have repeatedly been involved in incidents at sea. The latest ban shows the dispute is spreading beyond maritime patrols and diplomatic protests into personal sanctions against senior officials.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.