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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.
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