June 12, 2026
MANILA – China on Thursday imposed sanctions on Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his immediate family, barring them from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao and prohibiting Chinese entities from conducting business with them.
In a statement, China’s Foreign Ministry accused Teodoro of having “repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China” that “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,” the statement said.
The ministry added that organizations and individuals in China would not be allowed to engage in “any transaction, cooperation or other activities” with Teodoro and his family.
China did not specify which remarks prompted the sanctions.
Teodoro has been among the Philippine government’s most outspoken critics of Beijing’s actions in the West Philippine Sea, repeatedly challenging China’s expansive maritime claims and accusing it of coercive behavior in disputed waters.
The sanctions formalize reports that surfaced earlier this month that Teodoro and his family had already been prohibited from entering China.
Teodoro, in early June, said he had no assets in China and no plans to visit the country, brushing aside reports of a travel ban.
He also criticized the Chinese government, saying any interest he might have had in visiting the country for its food and people was outweighed by his views on its leadership.
The reports cited an unnamed source who claimed Chinese authorities had imposed restrictions on Teodoro and his family following a Philippine law enforcement operation at a steel company in Misamis Oriental that involved dozens of Chinese nationals allegedly handling harmful or noxious materials.
Teodoro had also previously indicated he would not be concerned if Beijing imposed sanctions on him.
Last year, when asked about the possibility of being barred from entering China, he said he would not care if such a restriction were imposed.
As of Thursday night, Teodoro and the Department of National Defense had yet to issue statements on the sanctions. /mr