Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro stated that the sanctions imposed by the People’s Republic of China against him and his family are a result of his continued opposition to what he describes as China's illegal activities in the Philippines and his outspoken position on the West Philippine Sea issue.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Teodoro revealed that he and his family have been barred from entering Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Macau after being sanctioned by the Chinese government.
“My family and I were sanctioned by the Communist Party of China because of what they claimed were erroneous statements I made about them. I merely spoke the truth about the West Philippine Sea and about their illegal activities here in the Philippines,” Teodoro said.
The Defense chief emphasized that the sanctions will not deter him from performing his duties, especially in supporting government efforts to address alleged illegal activities linked to Chinese nationals operating in the country.
Teodoro cited the dismantling of the scam hub in Bamban, which he described as a front operation involving dismissed mayor Alice Guo, as well as the recent closure of Sanjia Steel Corp., which he accused of producing substandard steel products.
He alleged that senior officials from the Chinese Embassy intervened to shield the company from scrutiny.
“In the case of Sanjia, high-ranking officials of the Chinese Embassy allegedly intervened personally to cover up the widespread illegal activities being carried out here,” he said.
Teodoro, who earlier visited the raided steel warehouse in Misamis Oriental, linked the company to businessman Tony Yang, whom he identified as the brother of Michael Yang. Tony Yang earlier admitted before a Senate inquiry that his Philippine citizenship documents were fake.
The Defense secretary stressed that government actions against alleged illegal activities should not be interpreted as targeting Chinese nationals.
“This is not about targeting Chinese nationals, but about putting an end to wrongdoing that is weakening our country,” he said.
Teodoro also defended his remarks regarding the West Philippine Sea, saying they are based on facts and consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
He noted that several countries and international partners share similar positions on maritime issues, while asserting that Beijing continues to pursue its claims within the so-called “nine-dash line,” which he described as illegal.
“I would also like our defense relations with China to be good, but that is not possible because they are trying to claim areas within the illegal nine-dash line. It would be an act of betrayal if we agreed to this,” he said.
Despite the sanctions, Teodoro said he remains committed to strengthening the country’s defense posture and expanding security partnerships with allied nations.
“You can expect that I will continue to carry out my duties, and that the strategy for strengthening our national defense is clear, including reinforcing our country’s alliances with our partners and allies,” he added.
