In a First, China Sanctions Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., His Relatives

China has announced sanctions against Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his relatives on Thursday, A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Gilberto Teodoro Jr. repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China, which undermines China's legitimate interests and sabotages China-Philippines relations.

To uphold China's sovereignty, security and development interests, China has decided to prohibit Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his spouse and child from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and not allow organizations and individuals in China to engage in any transaction, cooperation or other activities with him and his spouse and child, the spokesperson said.

Since Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is an important official for Chinese-Philippines negotiations concerning the two countries’ maritime dispute, sanctioning him means putting the process in jeopardy.

Philippines concerned over Chinese built structure in Scarborough Shoal

The National Task Force-West Philippine Sea confirmed the presence of a square floating structure inside the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.

According to the task force, aerial and maritime surveillance operations confirmed the structure's presence, along with several other unidentified objects, including buoys and antennas.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has described the structure as a violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and called for its removal.

This came as tensions persist in the West Philippine Sea, where Manila has repeatedly protested Chinese activities that it says violate Philippine sovereignty and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing's expansive maritime claims.