Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro blamed the Chinese government for fueling Sinophobia in the Philippines, following a Chinese travel advisory warning its citizens about possible harassment amid a crackdown on alleged Chinese spies.
Teodoro accused the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping of causing global distrust, including towards ordinary Chinese individuals, due to their overreach.
He criticized the Chinese regime’s authoritarian nature, describing it as a disservice to its citizens.
Meanwhile, the Philippines denied targeting Chinese citizens, emphasizing that only criminals are unwelcome.
The diplomatic tension escalated after the Philippines arrested several alleged Chinese spies, prompting China to retaliate by detaining Filipino citizens, and amid growing concerns over Chinese espionage, such as the case of a former mayor accused of being a Chinese spy.
Source: PhilNews24 | April 24, 2025
