Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro pointed to the Chinese government as the root cause of the growing ‘Sinophobia’ in the Philippines.
Sinophobia refers to fear, dislike, or prejudice against China, Chinese people, or Chinese culture.
Teodoro claimed that if such sentiments exist in the country, they are a direct consequence of the perceived overreach and dominance exerted by the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping.
He added that these actions are being felt worldwide, with even Chinese citizens themselves reportedly losing trust in their current leadership.
According to Teodoro, the Chinese government is doing a major disservice to its own people by prioritizing authoritarian control over public welfare.
His remarks came after China issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against traveling to the Philippines due to alleged harassment and a reported crackdown on suspected Chinese spies.
Despite this, the Philippines maintained that Chinese citizens are not being targeted and that all foreign nationals, except criminals, remain welcome in the country.
Teodoro’s statements underscore growing tensions between Manila and Beijing amid ongoing regional and diplomatic disputes.