The Armed Forces of the Philippines has expressed “absolute solidarity” with Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro following sanctions imposed on him by China.
Military spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad described the measures as “unilateral” and “ungrounded”, calling them a “transparent attempt at political intimidation”. He added that the sanctions would not deter the armed forces from carrying out its constitutional duties, particularly in the South China Sea.
China's foreign ministry announced on 11 June that it had imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family, accusing him of repeatedly making remarks that undermined China's "legitimate interests" and bilateral relations.
The sanctions bar Teodoro, his wife and child from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Chinese entities are also prohibited from conducting transactions, collaborations or other activities with them.
The ministry said the measures were intended to "safeguard China's national sovereignty, security, and development interests", but did not specify which of Teodoro's statements had prompted the action.
Last week, Beijing criticised the Philippine defence chief, claiming he had shown no appreciation for China's supply of essential commodities and accusing him of using public welfare issues for political point-scoring. The comments came after Teodoro described China as a threat.
He told Reuters at Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's leading defence forum:
"For countries like the Philippines, which faces serious territorial and political threats from China, we have no choice but to be resilient and stand up against Chinese aggression."
Following unconfirmed reports of a China entry ban, Teodoro reportedly told local broadcaster ABS-CBN:
"I have no assets in China and no plans to go there. Even if I wanted to visit because of the food and the people, it is overshadowed by the government they have."
China and the Philippines have clashed repeatedly in the South China Sea in recent years. Beijing continues to assert sweeping territorial claims that overlap with those of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling rejecting the legal basis for many of its claims.
Earlier this week, Manila took diplomatic action against Beijing over what it described as the "illegal presence" of a floating structure at a disputed atoll.
Armenia is looking to turn shared environmental challenges into opportunities for regional cooperation, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlig...
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It com...
In an interview with AnewZ’s Sabir Safarov, Houthi-aligned journalist Hussain al-Bukhaiti warns of possible attacks on Saudi Arabia’...
The Saudi-led coalition said early Thursday that it intercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, vowing to carry out more attacks in the coming days.
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It comes after a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people last week.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
Ukraine is set to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries following a two-day pause, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, amid growing tensions with Washington over energy strikes and U.S. military support.
A Norwegian teenager recruited by a Swedish criminal network to carry out a contract killing in Britain has been sentenced to 20 years’ detention after police uncovered the murder plot.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called it “a disgrace” that Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. Attacks are continuing from Russia and Ukraine as media reports say Ukraine has almost run out of Patriot interceptor missiles.
Romanian rescuers resumed their search for seven missing sailors on Friday (16 October) after a drone strike set a chemical tanker ablaze near the country’s Black Sea coast. The attacks have raised fresh security concerns along a vital regional trade route.
Students, lecturers and university staff marched on Argentina’s Congress in Buenos Aires on Thursday to demand President Javier Milei’s government implement a university funding law which would boost staff salaries and increase financial support to institutions to cover operating costs
A 16-year-old shooter opened fire on Thursday at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon in the United States, killing four people, including three children, before being killed by an armed member of the community who had pursued the assailant into the school, police said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment