Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday (Canada time) described the sanctions imposed by China against Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as 'very unhelpful.' 'The declaration of Beijing as Secretary Teodoro as a persona non grata (unwelcome), it's very unhelpful in my view because it achieves very little,' Marcos told reporters before returning to Manila following his four-day official visit to Canada. 'It's not just helpful. It's China's prerogative to do what they please. It raises the level of tension rather than lessens it,' he added.

According to Philippines News Agency, Beijing has barred Teodoro and his family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, and has prohibited Chinese organizations and individuals from conducting business with them. Despite this, Marcos said the Philippines would continue communicating with China "both in government-to-government, in the commercial level, [and] purely on a personal level." "Everything that we can is being explored, and cutting off another line of communication, which is through our defense ministries, I do not see how it will help the process that we're trying to manage the tensions," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier described China's move as an 'unfriendly act that further complicates' ties between Manila and Beijing. Teodoro, who has been vocal about Chinese aggression and coercive actions in the West Philippine Sea, said the sanctions against him and his family are a usual punishment for those who speak out about its deception.