Key facts
- China has imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
- The sanctions are a response to Teodoro's position on the South China Sea.
- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has publicly backed his defence chief.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has publicly backed his defence chief, Gilberto Teodoro Jr., after China imposed sanctions on him. The sanctions are reportedly a response to Teodoro's stance on the disputed South China Sea. Marcos Jr. stated his full confidence in Teodoro and affirmed that the Philippines' position on the maritime territory remains unchanged. The move by China escalates tensions between the two nations over the contested waters.