MANILA — Sen. Francis Pangilinan said China’s decision to impose sanctions on Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is an insult to the Philippines and an escalation of tensions over the West Philippine Sea.

In a report, it said that Pangilinan urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to formally protest the sanctions, which include a ban on Teodoro and his family from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

“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, adding Teodoro’s statements reflect Philippine policy.

“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,” he added.

Pangilinan described the move as a “clear escalation” by China in its actions against the Philippines, which he said has chosen legal and rules-based approaches, including reliance on the 2016 arbitral ruling.

“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,” he said.

Chinese vessels have previously been reported to have harassed Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea. Philippine authorities have also raised concerns over a reported floating structure near Bajo de Masinloc, a fishing ground within the country’s exclusive economic zone but under Beijing’s control.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier said Teodoro had “repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China, which undermines China’s legitimate interests and sabotages China-Philippines relations” and that the sanctions aim to “uphold China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”

Pangilinan said the DFA, which has expressed disagreement with the sanctions while acknowledging China’s right to impose them, should file a formal protest.

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima also said the government must treat the sanctions as a national issue and called for stronger measures against China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.

She said Liberal Party and WPS bloc lawmakers in the House had filed a resolution urging the executive branch to take a stronger diplomatic stance, including declaring persona non grata any foreign diplomat engaged in improper conduct, but said the measure was not acted upon.

“Ngayon, China pa ang may ganang pagbawalan ang ating opisyal na makapasok sa kanila.”