Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro pledged to continue his duties despite sanctions imposed by China, which accused him of repeated "erroneous remarks."
Manila condemned the sanctions as an "unfriendly act" that undermines bilateral trust amid growing tensions over the South China Sea. The case follows prior Beijing sanctions on foreign officials and comes after Philippine protests over an alleged "illegal" floating structure in a disputed atoll.
MANILA, June 12 (Reuters) - Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Friday he will continue to carry out his duties despite sanctions announced by Beijing a day earlier, accusing China of committing what he called "wickedness" against the Philippines.
Teodoro's remarks came after China's foreign ministry said on Thursday it had imposed sanctions on him and some of his close relatives for what Beijing described as "repeated erroneous remarks" that undermined China's legitimate interests and bilateral ties.
Firm response from Manila
Manila's foreign ministry condemned the move as an "unfriendly act that further complicates bilateral relations," saying such measures "do not contribute to building mutual trust, managing differences responsibly, or creating the conditions necessary for constructive engagement between our two countries."
"I will just keep doing my duty and uphold our nation in the face of the wickedness they are committing here and even in our seas," Teodoro said in a statement on Friday.
Teodoro made his comments after telling Reuters on the sidelines of Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue — Asia's premier defence forum — that the Philippines faces serious territorial and political pressure from China and must be resilient in protecting its sovereignty.
Context and precedent
The sanctions bring Teodoro into a growing list of foreign officials targeted by Beijing in recent years. In 2020, China sanctioned U.S. Senator Marco Rubio for his criticism of Beijing's human rights record; Chinese authorities later used a translation workaround that allowed him to participate in a recent summit with U.S. leaders. Beijing also sanctioned five European lawmakers in 2021 over their allegations of persecution in Xinjiang; those measures were later eased as China sought to improve ties with the EU.
Beijing, in responding to Teodoro's public comments, accused him of showing "no gratitude" for China's supply of key commodities and of politicising welfare issues for domestic showmanship.
Maritime tensions continue
The exchange comes amid broader strains between Manila and Beijing over maritime claims in the disputed South China Sea. Earlier this week, the Philippines lodged diplomatic protests over what it called the "illegal presence" of a floating structure at a disputed atoll.
Reporting by Karen Lema; additional reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing. Editing by Chris Reese and Lincoln Feast.
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