Sen. Kiko: China hurts own credibility with sanctions on PH defense chief

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said China’s decision to sanction Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. and his family undermines Beijing’s standing in the international community and weakens its claim to be a responsible major power.

“By sanctioning a sitting Cabinet member for defending an arbitral ruling and asserting rights guaranteed under international law, China diminishes its own standing in the community of nations,” Pangilinan said in a statement over the weekend.

He added that such actions only reinforce concerns about China’s use of coercion against smaller neighbors and strengthen the resolve of democratic nations to stand together against intimidation.

“Such actions undermine its claim to be a responsible major power and only strengthen the resolve of democracies — big and small — to stand together against coercion,” he said.

Pangilinan also described the sanctions as an attack on Philippine sovereignty, noting that Teodoro, as Secretary of National Defense, serves as the President’s alter ego on defense and security matters and implements official government policy.

“By imposing sanctions on the Philippine Secretary of National Defense, China is striking at the sovereign decisions of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.

“Punishing him and his family for doing so is a direct affront not only to him, but to the President, the Philippine state, and our constitutional order.”

The senator said the move marks a clear escalation in what he called China’s pattern of coercion and intimidation against the Philippines, despite Manila’s continued reliance on diplomacy, international law, and rules-based engagement in addressing disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

He pointed to the Philippines’ pursuit of peaceful legal remedies, including the landmark 2016 arbitral award, which invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

Pangilinan also recalled his own experience with Chinese sanctions. In April 2023, Beijing sanctioned the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), a regional alliance of liberal and democratic political parties that includes Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party. China barred CALD officials from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau and prohibited cooperation with the organization.

“At the time, I was not a sitting senator and serving as CALD chairperson,” Pangilinan noted. “To a lesser degree, I experienced similar treatment.”

Drawing a parallel to bullying, Pangilinan said intimidation should not be rewarded with submission.

“As a child, I learned that bullies prey on those they perceive to be weak. I also learned that kowtowing to a bully does not stop the bullying,” he said.

The senator called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to formally protest China’s sanctions against Teodoro and his family.

With the 10th anniversary of the July 12, 2016 arbitral ruling approaching, Pangilinan reaffirmed the Philippines’ maritime rights and the right of Filipinos to defend them.

“As we approach the tenth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award on July 12, we reaffirm our rights in our own waters and the right of Filipino citizens — officials and regular folk — to defend and articulate those rights without fear of foreign intimidation,” he said.