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Jeoffrey Maitem

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has broken his silence on China’s sanctions against his defence chief, in remarks seen as a closing of ranks that could complicate diplomacy between Manila and Beijing in the near term.
Observers say the president’s public backing of outspoken Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro amounts to a “good cop, bad cop” approach that signals Manila’s resolve and may strengthen defence cooperation with its allies.
Speaking to reporters in Vancouver over the weekend, Marcos called Beijing’s sanctions “very unhelpful” amid long-running territorial tensions in the South China Sea.
The sanctions “achieve very little”, he said, adding: “It does not move the discussion between the Philippines and China regarding the territorial conflicts that we have. It does not move that process forward in any way.”
“It does not make it easier. It does not lessen the risk of a mistake or some kind of skirmish that could grow into something more.”


It was the first time Marcos had commented publicly on Beijing’s sanctions, which bar Teodoro and his family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau over what Chinese authorities called the defence chief’s “irresponsible” remarks.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue defence forum in Singapore in May, Teodoro said: “For countries like the Philippines … which is under severe threat territory-wise and politically too by China, we have no choice but really to be resilient and to stand up against Chinese aggression.”
Responding to the sanctions last month, Teodoro dismissed the move as a familiar tactic, saying he would continue to perform his duties. On Monday, he also rejected a Chinese proposal for a common fishing ground at the contested Scarborough Shoal, pointing to Filipino fishing rights affirmed by an international arbitral ruling in 2016.

Danielito Jimenez, founder of advocacy platform The Pinoy Street Lawyer Official, said Marcos’ remarks would likely stir tension but did not signal an end to diplomacy.
“In effect, he’s saying: we can talk, but not under pressure or intimidation. The next move now largely depends on Beijing,” Jimenez said.
“It sends a message that the government is united on the issue. That strengthens public confidence and assures the armed forces that the president and the defence secretary are on the same page.”
By defending Teodoro, Marcos was “showing that the Philippines will not allow another country to dictate how our officials speak or carry out their duties” while keeping the door open for diplomacy, Jimenez added.
‘Good cop, bad cop’
Analysts suggest Manila’s regional partners are likely to read the development as confirmation of an existing trend.
China’s decision to sanction a sitting defence minister would reinforce concerns among Japan, the United States, Australia, France and others that Beijing was increasingly combining military pressure, diplomatic signalling and political coercion, said Arnaud Leveau, a geopolitics professor at Paris Dauphine University.
But he argued that such “measures intended to isolate Manila often end up accelerating defence cooperation among like-minded countries”.
In the short term, though, Leveau said Marcos’ comments would make political dialogue harder.

“Public sanctions against a sitting defence secretary create a personal and institutional obstacle,” he said. “They reduce the political space for quiet confidence-building measures because both governments now have stronger domestic expectations to appear firm.”
Neither Manila nor Beijing had an interest in letting incidents at sea escalate into a wider crisis, Leveau added, anticipating that communication channels were likely to stay open even as mutual trust was lacking.
Jimenez said Manila’s allies would likely view Marcos’ remarks as a signal that the Philippines remained committed to upholding the 2016 Hague arbitral ruling that found against China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” claim in the South China Sea.
Beijing has rejected the ruling and continues to assert its claims in the disputed waters.

“The president may use a more diplomatic tone, while the defence secretary speaks more firmly on security issues,” Jimenez said. “Those roles can complement each other simply like a good cop, bad cop strategy.”
He added that a united Philippine position left less room for Beijing to exploit internal divisions as it made Manila’s policy clearer and more consistent.
“The real challenge is not the exchange of political statements but the increasing frequency of encounters between Chinese and Philippine vessels,” Leveau concluded.
“As long as these operational frictions continue, diplomatic stabilisation will remain fragile regardless of the public rhetoric.”
Teodoro and his family are not the first Filipinos to be sanctioned by China.
In 2019, former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario and Conchita Carpio-Morales, a retired Supreme Court justice, were separately denied entry to Hong Kong after filing a complaint with the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials over alleged crimes against humanity linked to Beijing’s island building in the South China Sea.
Last year, China blacklisted then senator Francis Tolentino, now the acting labour secretary, after he launched a Senate inquiry into alleged Chinese influence operations in the Philippines.
In February, Beijing also barred 16 officials from Kalayaan, in Palawan province, after the municipality proposed declaring Chinese ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata.


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The Philippines

Philippine president backs defence chief over China sanctions

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr pictured on Thursday during his visit to Vancouver, Canada. Photo: The Canadian Press/AP

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro talks to the media at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 29. Photo: AP

A member of the Philippine coastguard talks on a microphone as he looks out over Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on June 15. Photo: AFP

A ship identified by the Philippine coastguard as a Chinese research vessel is seen at the mouth of Scarborough Shoal on June 15. Photo: AFP

Outgunned Philippine Air Force takes on South China Sea defence

Super Tucano light attack aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, designed for counter-insurgency operations, perform a fly-by during joint drills with the US in 2024. Photo: AFP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr looks at miniature models of military aircraft presented to him by air force chief Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura (right) during an event at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on July 1 marking the Philippine Air Force’s 79th founding anniversary. Photo: EPA

Anti-government protesters carry mock images of Marcos, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a rally in Manila last month. Photo: EPA

A coastguard helicopter delivers aid packages to an earthquake-affected village in Sarangani province, southern Philippines, on June 11. Photo: Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development/EPA

F-15SG fighters of the Republic of Singapore Air Force perform during National Day celebrations last year. The city state operates Southeast Asia’s most advanced air force. Photo: Xinhua

A Chinese coastguard vessel patrols near Second Thomas Shoal last month. The disputed South China Sea feature lies around 194km west of the Philippines’ Palawan province. Photo: Xinhua

What Philippine president’s visit reveals about Canada’s Indo-Pacific ambitions

Canadian Minister of National Defence David McGuinty (left) and Philippine Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro take part in a signing ceremony in Ottawa on June 11. Photo: AP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr salutes military honour guards at a ceremony marking the 79th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at Villamor Air Base on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Philippine navy personnel watch Canadian vessel HMCS Montreal during the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea on August 7, 2024. Photo: Public Affairs Office Armed Forces of the Philippines/AP

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20. Photo: AFP

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For weeks, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said nothing about the sanctions on Gilberto Teodoro. Then, on a work trip to Vancouver, he finally did


For weeks, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said nothing about the sanctions on Gilberto Teodoro. Then, on a work trip to Vancouver, he finally did.


South China Sea

Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Gilberto Teodoro Jnr

China

Philippine president backs defence chief over China sanctions

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}For weeks, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said nothing about the sanctions on Gilberto Teodoro. Then, on a work trip to Vancouver, he finally did

For weeks, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said nothing about the sanctions on Gilberto Teodoro. Then, on a work trip to Vancouver, he finally did