MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said sanctions imposed by China against Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his immediate family are intended to intimidate the defense chief, who has been active in strengthening the country’s security partnerships.

AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, made the statement in an interview over DZBB.

“Ito ay maliwanag na pananakot, kita naman natin ang napaka-effective na SND (Secretary of National Defense). Siya ang nanguna sa ating defense diplomacy, ang dami nang nalagdaan na enhanced (our) defense relations sa iba’t ibang bansa. (these sanctions are just merely to intimidate him, it is known to us that he is very effective SND, he is leading our defense diplomacy and under his term, we have signed a lot of agreements which further enhanced (our) defense relations with other countries),” he said.

China has barred Teodoro and his immediate family from entering its territory and has also prohibited Chinese nationals from conducting business with them.

Trinidad pointed to several Status of Visiting Forces Agreements the Philippines has entered into with countries such as Canada, France, and Japan during Teodoro’s tenure as defense secretary.

He also said the defense chief has been vocal in criticizing China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.

“It only (shows) that tama ang ginagawa niya (what he is doing is right) eh, tayo naman sa hanay ng AFP, total support tayo sa ating SND (and we, in the AFP ranks, we express our total support to our SND),” Trinidad said.

China’s Foreign Ministry earlier said the sanctions were imposed because Teodoro had “repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China” that allegedly harmed Chinese interests and undermined China-Philippines relations.