During the two-day Ryukyu-themed international symposium held from Saturday to Sunday, participating scholars called for deeper research into Ryukyu's history and culture to draw greater global attention to Japan's colonial history and its ongoing military expansion. They also stressed that the international community must remain alert to the risks of new militarism in Japan, and lend strong support to safeguarding long-term peace, prosperity and stability in East Asia.

The 5th Ryukyu-Okinawa Academic International Symposium convened at Peking University from Saturday to Sunday. Bringing together nearly 100 scholars from China and the Ryukyu Islands, the event featured in-depth interdisciplinary discussions covering a wide range of themes, including Ryukyu's history, ancient exchanges between China and the Ryukyu Kingdom, shifts in regional geopolitics, and contemporary security landscapes. Centered on charting a path for peaceful development of the Ryukyu Islands, participants also discussed the post-WWII international order in East Asia.

The symposium was jointly organized by the History Department of Peking University, the Northeast Asia Research Institute of Peking University, the Institute of Chinese and Foreign Relations History of Peking University, and the Aisixiang website.

Yang Bojiang, director of the Japan Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in his speech that Japan has been ramping up military deployments in the Ryukyu Islands, stoking tensions across East Asia. 

Blessed with a prime geographic location and abundant maritime and cultural resources, the Ryukyu Islands historically served as an irreplaceable hub for economic, trade and cultural exchanges throughout East Asia. Endowed with such natural strengths, they could well have pursued peaceful development and contributed to shared prosperity for the whole region, Yang said.

Yet clouded by the Cold War mentality, zero-sum mindset and military expansionism of certain countries, the Ryukyu Islands have lost their original orientation for peaceful development and gradually turned into a frontline of regional military rivalry.

Tang Liguo, a professor and deputy Party secretary of the Department of History at Peking University, stated at the symposium that the Ryukyu issue has long been a key research subject in international academia, boasting profound academic value and practical significance. 

Amid profound shifts in the global landscape, the post-WWII international order faces unprecedented new challenges. Regional peace, prosperity and development are closely intertwined with the shared future of humanity. In-depth research on the Ryukyu issue therefore plays a vital role in safeguarding stability across East Asia and the wider world, Tang said.

The Ryukyu Islands serve as a mirror reflecting how humanity treats vulnerable civilizations, preserves cultural diversity, and builds a fair international order. Research on the Ryukyu Islands consistently serves the academic mission of restoring historical truth and upholding international justice, said Guo Qionghu, editor-in-chief of the Aisixiang website, at the symposium.

Matayoshi Seikiyo, a visiting professor at Okinawa University, voiced profound concerns over the current challenges facing the Ryukyu Islands in an interview with the Global Times. In his view, Japan's accelerated military buildup in the Ryukyus is steadily eroding the foundations of local culture, people's livelihoods and industrial development, posing grave potential risks. 

"The Ryukyu Islands boast distinctive regional value. It is urgent for them to redefine their development orientation, take proactive steps to deepen exchanges and cooperation with neighboring regions and pursue shared growth together," Seikiyo said.

The Japanese government lacks basic international awareness and a sense of responsibility, and has long ignored the genuine will and legitimate demands of the Ryukyu people, said Tetsumi Takara, a professor at University of the Ryukyus. 

The Ryukyu issue is by no means Japan's internal affair, but a major international matter that bears on the stability of the post-WWII international order in East Asia, Takara told the Global Times.

Over the past decade, successive Japanese cabinets led by Shinzo Abe, Fumio Kishida and Sanae Takaichi have pushed ahead with missile deployments on Yonaguni and Ishigaki islands, the islands nearest to China's Taiwan region. Tokyo also seeks to revise three key national security documents including the National Security Strategy within the year, and labels China as its "greatest strategic challenge" in the draft of the 2026 Defense White Paper, said Xu Yong, a professor in the Department of History at Peking University.

"Essentially, the emerging militarism in present-day Japan shares the same core characteristics with pre-WWII Japanese militarism. What fuels this continuity is a string of political and strategic decisions centered on controlling the Ryukyu Islands — a subject worthy of in-depth research and reflection today," Xu said. 

"While we identify and criticize Japan's new militaristic tendencies, we should adopt a differentiated perspective toward the Japanese people. We should expand friendly exchanges with Japanese citizens, stand with conscientious Japanese scholars and politicians, and work to uphold overall peace and security across the Asia-Pacific," Xu noted.

A single photograph - or, more precisely, a disputed story about who "begged" for it - has turned into the most public rupture yet between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who were once seen as natural ideological allies on the Western right.

The dispute deepened in the latest round of public exchanges between the two leaders, as Meloni, on Saturday local time in Rome, sharpened her break with Trump, telling him to "focus on his own popularity" after he repeated on Truth Social his claim that she had repeatedly sought a photograph with him at the recent G7 summit in France.

Meloni rejected the remarks as "continuous and senseless attacks," defended Italy's refusal to allow the use of Italian bases or runways for US military operations linked to the Iran conflict, and insisted that Italy remains a sovereign country governed by existing agreements.

The strong reaction from the Italian side shows that the Meloni government is finding it increasingly difficult to accept the hierarchy embedded in the current US diplomacy, some Chinese observers reached by the Global Times on Sunday noted. It also marked a deeper change in transatlantic relations, they said.

The quarrel erupted after Trump, peaking in a telephone interview with Italy's La7 television channel, claimed that Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph during the recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. According to Italian media accounts of the interview, Trump said he was not obliged to take the picture but agreed because he "felt sorry" for her. Meloni's response was immediate and unusually personal. In a video posted on social media, the Italian prime minister said Trump's remarks were "totally invented," adding that she was "frankly astonished." Then came the line that quickly dominated Italian headlines: "Neither I nor Italy ever beg."

Reuters reported on local time Saturday that underscoring how much Trump's comments have angered Meloni's government, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pulled out of a visit to the US next week. A US-Italy business conference scheduled for Monday in Miami was also called off after Tajani cancelled his visit, the Italian embassy said.

The US State Department did not ⁠respond when asked about Tajani's cancelled trip, per the Reuters report.

The scene had an almost theatrical quality: a leader who had once invested heavily in her relationship with Trump now standing before Italians to deny that she had sought his favor, the AP reported. "Certain things deserve an immediate response," Meloni said, according to media reports of her video remarks. She questioned why Trump behaved in such a manner toward allies and said it "was a shame he doesn't show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the US," the AP reported.

Trump did not retreat. On Saturday he doubled down on Truth Social, again saying that Meloni had repeatedly sought a photo with him and suggested that she wanted to repair relations with Washington to improve her standing at home. Reuters reported that Trump also criticized Italy for not allowing the US to use Italian bases or runways in connection with the conflict with Iran, calling the refusal a logistical problem for Washington.

Trump initially misspelled Meloni's first name as "Gigiorgia," according to Reuters and Italian media. Trump wrote "Italian Prime Minister Gigiorgia Meloni…" and "He misspelled her first name in the initial post, which he later corrected," AP reported.

Meloni's second response was sharper still. Writing in English on Instagram, she dismissed Trump's "continuous and senseless attacks," rejected the idea that her popularity depended on his friendship, and told him to focus on his own ratings rather than hers. She also defended Italy's position on military bases, stressing that their use is governed by existing agreements and cannot be changed at will. "As long as I am prime minister," she said, Italy would remain a sovereign nation.

Chen Hong, Director of the Country and Region Studies Institute at the School of Foreign Languages, East China Normal University, told the Global Times that the controversy appears on the surface to revolve around a disputed photo opportunity, but in fact reflects a deeper change in transatlantic relations.

Trump tends to personalize alliance relations and use personal influence to highlight US dominance, he noted. But in the current European political environment, such an approach is increasingly likely to trigger backlash, especially against the backdrop of Washington bypassing Europe and unilaterally pushing military action against Iran.

European dimension

The dispute also drew support for Meloni from elsewhere in Europe. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said after an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, that he had expressed "all my solidarity" with Meloni at the European Council, describing Trump's remarks as an attack that was "neither political nor personal."

Belgium's Defense Minister Theo Francken was even more direct, writing on X that "the insults from the White House need to stop" because they "divide the West and achieve nothing," and adding that Washington should "leave @GiorgiaMeloni alone."

Jiang Feng, a senior researcher at Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Regional Studies Association, told the Global Times that the episode reflected a broader shift in Europe's attitude toward the US.

European leaders, he said, are adjusting their approach on the basis of realism, moving away from an almost one-sided emphasis on values-based strategic alignment with Washington toward a more pragmatic, transactional mode of cooperation.

European governments are increasingly judging their ties with Washington case by case, weighing their own interests and dignity. Europe still objectively depends on the US in many areas, Jiang said, citing the war in Iran, but it [Europe] has also come to realize that the US is not always able to get its way.

Europe has neither the capacity nor the willingness to completely break away from the US. However, more and more European countries are unwilling to continue accepting a condescending American style of leadership, Chen said. That is why a dispute on social media could quickly evolve into a political event involving national dignity, alliance relations and Europe's strategic positioning.

Dramatic turn

The episode marks a dramatic turn in a relationship that, not long ago, seemed politically useful to both leaders. Meloni had been portrayed in Washington as a European conservative who could speak Trump's language while still dealing with the European Union and NATO. The Washington Post described her as having once been labeled Europe's "Trump whisperer." But the same report noted that the war in Iran had turned that friendship into a liability for her.

From Meloni's personal political perspective, Chen said the incident has also offered her an important political opportunity. Over the past few years, Meloni has been seen as one of the European right-wing leaders closest to Trump. In the early phase of Trump's return to power, this identity was once viewed as an important advantage for Italy in gaining access to US policy resources and influence. But as the US administration continues to pursue an "America First" agenda and adopts a transactional attitude toward European allies, that closeness has begun to produce negative effects.

Reuters offered a similar reading, describing the transformation as one from "Trump whisperer" to "Trump basher." The report noted that tensions had already been building before the G7 photo dispute, especially over Italy's position on the Iran conflict and Rome's reluctance to be drawn into US military operations. In April, Reuters reported that Trump had publicly rebuked Meloni after she criticized his remarks about Pope Leo XIV, another moment that strained the image of ideological harmony between the two leaders.

Italian media treated the clash not simply as a diplomatic embarrassment, but as a test of national standing. Sky TG24 highlighted Meloni's declaration that "Italy does not beg" and documented the wave of reactions from Italian political leaders. Corriere della Sera focused on her reply to Trump's renewed attacks, particularly her insistence that Italian sovereignty and existing military agreements must be respected. RaiNews emphasized Trump's suggestion that Meloni wanted to be "friends again," while also noting the symbolic awkwardness of his initial misspelling of her name.

Some Italian commentary went further, portraying the episode as a degradation of diplomacy itself. La Repubblica columnist Stefano Bartezzaghi wrote that the Trump-Meloni exchange resembled "kindergarten" behavior rather than statesmanship.

US media also saw the clash as more than a personal feud. Axios described the dispute as a social media "war of words" between the "one-time friends," adding that close allies are increasingly willing to split with him.

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that Europe's dissatisfaction with the US is moving from the surface to a deeper level.

While the current dispute is being expressed through verbal clashes between Italian leader and the US president, the deeper reason is that European countries increasingly believe the US no longer has sufficient capability, resources or commitment to provide the security guarantees Europe needs, Li said.

European countries are realizing that they can better safeguard their own security only by relying more on themselves and by strengthening coordination among European states, Li said.

China plans to tighten management of Antarctic tourism by bringing it under a formal legal regulatory framework, and proposes fines of up to 1 million yuan ($147,778) for conducting activities without authorization, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee announced on Monday, against the backdrop of a growing number of Chinese tourists to this polar area.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee will convene for its 23rd session from Tuesday to Friday. It will review the second draft to the Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law, which proposes a systematic regulatory framework for Antarctic tourism, including a permit application system, clearly defined obligations for both tour operators and tourists, and penalties such as fines of up to 1 million yuan and a ban of up to 10 years on applying for permits, Huang Haihua, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said during a press briefing on Monday.

In December 2025, the 19th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee conducted the first review of the Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law. Based on feedbacks from various parties, the draft has been revised with major changes including to accurately fulfill the duties as stipulated by international treaties, improve reporting mechanism in emergency occasions, better bridge with China's fishery law, and strengthen protection of the Antarctic environment by establishing corresponding legal liabilities based on the degree of environmental damage and the difficulty of ecological restoration.

The draft aims to strengthen regulation and safety oversight of Antarctic tourism by clearly defining tourism activities and requiring operators to obtain permits from the State Council's maritime authority. Applicants must submit detailed activity plans, environmental impact assessments, emergency response measures, financial guarantees, and insurance documents.

It also sets out distinct responsibilities for operators and tourists: operators must ensure safe, compliant transport and equipment and implement safety and emergency protocols, while tourists must follow Antarctic Treaty safety rules and environmental regulations. Visitors to Chinese research stations must comply with national rules and avoid disrupting scientific activities.

Post-activity reporting to the maritime authority is mandatory.

For enforcement, unauthorized Antarctic tourism or activities will be ordered to stop immediately, with offenders required to leave Antarctica, have illegal gains confiscated, and face fines ranging from 100,000 to 1 million yuan depending on severity. Serious violations may also result in a 10-year ban on applying for Antarctic activity permits.

Chinese tourists traveling to Antarctica has grown rapidly in recent years, and the Xinhua News Agency reported in October 2025 that some polar tourism companies have increasingly focused on the Chinese market, with some even deploying expedition staff speaking Chinese on board vessels.

According to Hu Jiaojiao, director of Polar Hub, a Tianjin-based organization focusing on glacier protection, China has now become the fastest-growing source of Antarctic tourists and the world's second-largest country of origin for Antarctic travel.

The growing human activities combined with climate warming are placing dual pressure on the Antarctic cryosphere. The Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law can both regulate the behavior of domestic institutions and tourists and align with China's responsibilities in polar ecological governance, Hu told the Global Times on Monday.

It is also highly consistent with the goal of balancing mass tourism demand with Antarctic environmental protection and guiding Antarctic tourism toward sustainable development, Hu said.

According to Nicole Zheng, marketing director polar expedition cruise company 66 Expeditions Cruises, they carry out pre-landing preparations and environmental management during travels in accordance with the standards and requirements of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators.

Strict IAATO-based rules require thorough cleaning of clothing and gear, bans on carrying soil, seeds or organic matter, and prohibition on collecting natural Antarctic samples in order to prevent invasive species from accelerating the degradation of native ecosystems around glaciers. Visitor numbers and routes are tightly controlled, with a mandatory 5-meter distance from wildlife and restrictions on entering sensitive zones. All waste, including human waste, must be returned to stations or camps for centralized disposal, according to Zheng.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday emphasized the importance of upholding international rules, saying that the conflict between the United States and Iran, which has lasted for over a hundred days, has severely impacted the regional and international situation.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the remarks during the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security here in India.

He said that the recent signing of the first phase of the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, along with the conflict, has made many things clear to us.

He said that the settlement of any international and regional hotspot issues should be based on abiding by international rules. The law of the jungle may succeed for a while, but it is not sustainable.

The second is the importance of respecting national sovereignty, Wang said, adding that territorial integrity shall not be violated and a country's internal affairs shall not be interfered with. This is the most basic bottom line of international justice, he noted.

The third point is the importance of establishing a new vision of security, Wang said. Countries are increasingly becoming a community with a shared future. The practice of seeking absolute security of oneself at the expense of others will only backfire, he said.

The Chinese top diplomat said that the fourth is to understand the significance of new forms of war. Unconventional warfare, such as information warfare and cyber warfare, has become more visible in recent conflicts. Facing interwoven traditional and non-traditional security threats, it is the right time for BRICS countries to enhance dialogue and cooperation on security affairs.

The Chinese Embassy in Thailand issued a consular advisory on Wednesday, urging Chinese citizens to exercise caution when traveling to areas along the Thai-Myanmar border, according to the embassy's official WeChat account.

The embassy said it had recently received reports from Chinese nationals who were subjected to enhanced scrutiny by Thai immigration authorities and, in some cases, denied entry, after previously traveling to border areas such as Tak Province.

Chinese citizens are advised to fully understand the associated risks and carefully consider whether travel to border areas, including Tak Province and Mae Sot.

According to the advisory, Thai authorities have in recent years strengthened entry and exit management in border areas, stepping up efforts to prevent risks linked to illegal employment, telecom and online fraud, online gambling, human smuggling and trafficking, as well as other cross-border criminal activities.

Foreign nationals who have previously visited relevant areas, stayed for extended periods, exhibited unusual travel patterns, or who are linked to related cases, may be subject to close scrutiny and additional checks upon entry, the embassy said.

The embassy reminded Chinese citizens traveling to Thailand to plan their itineraries appropriately, avoid visiting sensitive border areas unrelated to normal tourism or business activities, and not to trust advertisements involving high-paying jobs, investment tours or gambling activities, nor to participate in any illegal activities.

For those who have previously visited Thai-Myanmar border areas and plan to re-enter Thailand, the embassy advised them to consult relevant authorities in advance on applicable policies and fully assess potential entry risks to avoid disruptions to their travel plans.

It is the second travel advisory issued by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand within two months.  

On April 24, the embassy issued a separate reminder, saying a number of Chinese citizens had recently been deceived by criminal groups under the guise of "high-paying jobs" or tourism, and were induced to travel via Thailand to border areas between Thailand and Myanmar, where they were reportedly involved in telecom and online fraud and other illegal activities. 

The reminder added that some individuals were subjected to forcible physical control, violence, and unlawful detention, seriously endangering their lives, safety, and lawful rights and interests. The embassy urged Chinese citizens to strengthen risk awareness, enhance personal safety precautions, stay away from illegal activities, and ensure their safety. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing in Beijing on Tuesday.

China places ties with Myanmar as a priority in neighborhood diplomacy, and supports the new Myanmar government in coordinating development and security imperatives to find a correct path of development that suits its national conditions and wins popular support, Xi told Min Aung Hlaing, who is on a state visit to China.

Xi said that China adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, pursues a friendly policy toward all the people of Myanmar, and firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Noting that this year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), Xi said China stands ready to share its development experience with Myanmar and jointly build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, which is underpinned by political amity and mutual trust, win-win development, security coordination and people-to-people exchanges.

As Myanmar's neighbor with the longest shared border, China is a trustworthy friend and partner, Xi stressed, calling on both sides to strengthen solidarity and collaboration in a changing and turbulent international landscape.

Xi called the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor a flagship project of the Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries, saying both sides should steadily advance the safe construction of key projects to help Myanmar develop its economy and improve people's livelihoods.

Xi said China is willing to increase support for Myanmar's post-earthquake reconstruction, and the two sides should continue to combat criminal activities including online gambling, telecom fraud and drug trafficking.

China supports all parties in Myanmar in advancing peace and reconciliation through talks to achieve lasting stability in northern Myanmar, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of Myanmar and its people, he said.

Hailing the time-honored "pauk-phaw" friendship between the two countries, Min Aung Hlaing thanked China for its long-standing and selfless support for Myanmar's development, stability, peace and reconciliation, adding Myanmar will firmly adhere to the one-China principle.

Noting that China's implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan brings important opportunities for its Asian neighbors including Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar hopes to deepen all-round cooperation with China, jointly build the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor and elevate bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese enterprises and personnel in Myanmar and will make every effort to ensure their security. Myanmar is willing to work closely with China to resolutely crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud and safeguard border security and stability, he added.

Myanmar fully supports the four major global initiatives put forward by President Xi and stands ready to deepen multilateral communication and coordination with China, he said.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in areas including transportation and people's livelihoods.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Min Aung Hlaing. A welcome banquet was also held for him around noon.

In the face of global challenges, a top priority is to fulfill the obligations enshrined in the UN Charter, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said this at a press conference held to present a white paper titled "More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China's Principles, Proposals and Actions."

The Taiwan regional Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have bowed and scraped to cater to external forces and have degenerated into outright traitors to the nation, Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday, stressing that "we sternly warn the DPP authorities that anyone who forgets their ancestors and betrays the nation will, without exception, be nailed to history's pillar of shame."

Zhang made the remarks when asked to comment on reports that after Japan and the Philippines announced the launch of "maritime delimitation talks," the mainland has emphasized the one-China principle, saying that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits should jointly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while the DPP authorities falsely claimed that "the two sides of the Straits are not subordinate to each other, China has no right to interfere and no right to speak on behalf of Taiwan." They also claimed that Taiwan has signed "fisheries agreements" with Japan and the Philippines respectively and will continue to discuss maritime issues with Japan and the Philippines. Some media also reported that Japan has rejected the DPP authorities' request for dialogue. 

Zhang said that the waters that Japan and the Philippines have announced they intend to delimit are located east of Taiwan island, where China has an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. By bypassing China and unilaterally launching so-called "delimitation talks," Japan and the Philippines have seriously infringed on China's maritime rights and interests, seriously violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and their move is completely illegal and invalid.

The DPP authorities have bowed and scraped to cater to external forces and have degenerated into outright traitors to the nation. Facing unanimous condemnation from compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, the DPP authorities have changed their tune again, reheating the fallacy of "Taiwan independence" in an attempt to shift the focus and deceive the public, said Zhang. We sternly warn the DPP authorities that anyone who forgets their ancestors and betrays the nation will, without exception, be nailed to history's pillar of shame, she noted. 

Multiple Japanese media outlets reported on June 10 that Yohei Kono, former president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and former speaker of the House of Representatives, passed away on June 8 at the age of 89. Throughout his life, Kono advocated friendship with China and deep reflection on Japan's wartime responsibilities. He issued the Kono Statement, which acknowledged historical wrongdoing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that we mourn for Mr. Yohei Kono's passing and offer our deepest sympathies to his family. Lin made the remarks at the regular press briefing on Thursday when asked what is Chinese Foreign Ministry's comment on Kono's passing and how China assess his contributions to China-Japan relations.

Mr. Kono is a dear old friend of the Chinese people. He held a correct view of history. In 1993 when he served as Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Kono issued an official statement on the "comfort women" issue to acknowledge the Japanese government's responsibility and express remorse and apology. Even to this day, the statement continues to exert a positive influence. Mr. Kono is regarded as a flagbearer in upholding Japan's pacifist Constitution. He once said, "Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which clearly stipulates that Japan renounces war and does not maintain war potential, represents our determination, resolve, and ideal," Lin said.

He dedicated his life to China-Japan friendship, visited China numerous times, and made important contributions to advancing bilateral relations and promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. On his deathbed, he still had China-Japan ties at heart and said in tears that he wished to make one last visit to China. Unfortunately, due to his worsening condition, Mr. Kono's wish was not fulfilled, Lin added.

Mr. Kono once said he would never forget the impact and joy when the two countries realized the normalization of diplomatic relations. History should not be forgotten, the conviction should be carried forward, and the commitments made should be honored. Under the current circumstances, these words hold even more relevance, Lin said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday slammed Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. for distorting facts and smearing China, and said his toxic rhetoric and action are pure political theatrics for selfish political gains, after the Philippine defense chief claimed that he would continue to do his "duty" following China's sanctions against him. 

It is precisely the irresponsible and reckless provocations of a small handful of people like him that have aggravated China-Philippines disputes and soured bilateral relations, and will ultimately jeopardize the interests of the Philippines and its people, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday. 

Teodoro repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China, which undermines China's legitimate interests and sabotages China-Philippines relations. To uphold China's sovereignty, security and development interests, China has decided to prohibit Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his spouse and child from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and not allow organizations and individuals in China to engage in any transaction, cooperation or other activities with them, China's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

Chinese experts said that Teodoro has repeatedly misrepresented China's rights-protection actions in the South China Sea and China's assistance to the Philippines, causing serious damage to bilateral ties. The sanctions also serve as a warning to certain Philippine politicians who have been hostile toward China not to further sabotage China-Philippines relations.

Sanctions against saboteur

When asked about what are the "irresponsible remarks" made by Teodoro that led to the sanctions against him, Lin said at the press conference on Friday that "Teodoro is one of the most blatant among the handful of hostile actors towards China in the Philippines. His reckless behavior will backfire and it is the interests of the Philippines and all its people that will bear the brunt." 

When asked whether China's announcement of sanctions against Teodoro will affect China's future assistance to the Philippines, Lin said that "if people like Teodoro are allowed to undermine again and again the efforts of the two sides to stabilize ties, they will hurt ultimately the fundamental interests of the Philippines and its people."

Following China's sanctions against Teodoro, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) claimed on Friday that "while the imposition of sanctions is China's sovereign prerogative, the Philippines views it as an unfriendly act that further complicates bilateral relations," according to Philippine media outlet GMA Network.

In a statement early Friday, Teodoro claimed he had been sanctioned for "speaking truth" and said "I will just keep doing my duty," according to Philippine media outlet ABS-CBN News.

The claim from the Philippine side that China's sanctions are an "unfriendly act" completely distorts the truth and shifts the blame, Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Teodoro's tenure under the Marcos administration has been marked by repeated attempts to distort the reality of China's maritime rights-protection enforcement in the South China Sea, economic aid, and diplomatic engagement, with the purpose of misleading the public and the global community, Chen said, noting that whether backed by domestic factions or external, extra-regional powers, Teodoro has acted as a deliberate saboteur of China-Philippines relations.

Teodoro alleged at the Shangri-La Dialogue that China had provided fertilizer and fuel to the Philippines but did not show good faith on a long-term basis, and "no matter how they sugarcoat their assistance to us, it doesn't cut the mustard." He also claimed the Philippines was under severe threat both territory-wise and politically by China.

In response to Teodoro's remarks, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on June 2 that this Philippine defense secretary is known for vilifying China. His latest rhetoric shows his complete disregard of the welfare of the Philippine people and lack of appreciation for kindness. All he cares about is selfish personal gains to the point that he would perform political theatrics even when people's well-being is at stake. 

China's sanctions against Teodoro send a clear message that those who repeatedly make anti-China remarks, distort facts and smear China's image must bear the consequences, especially when such words and deeds deliberately defy objective facts, Ge Hongliang, deputy director of the College of ASEAN Studies at Guangxi University for Nationalities, told the Global Times. 

China has rarely imposed targeted sanctions of this kind on politicians from Southeast Asian countries, and the move reflects Beijing's firm and unequivocal stance to safeguard its legitimate interests, the expert said, noting that it also serves as a warning to certain politicians in the Philippines whose negative actions are undermining bilateral ties.

Meddling in maritime issues 

China's sanctions against Teodoro come amid a series of provocative moves and maritime related rhetoric from the Philippines that have drawn protests from Beijing, including Manila's promotion of so-called Japan-Philippines maritime delimitation talks covering waters east of China's Taiwan island.

An Associated Press report on Friday also noted that Teodoro, who was appointed defense chief by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in June 2023, "has been one of the most vocal critics" of China's actions in the South China Sea and against Taiwan island. 

Teodoro has led efforts to deepen Manila's defense and security engagements with the US, including by broadening annual combat exercises with American forces that now include joint naval patrols and drills in the South China Sea. He has also led efforts to forge visiting forces' agreements with countries including Japan, France, Canada and New Zealand, per AP. 

South China Sea tensions between China and the Philippines have risen to a high level, driven in part by the growing involvement of external forces such as the US and Japan. These two countries are using the Philippines as a strategic pawn against China, while Manila is relying on outside powers to take a tougher stance, a trend that has sharply increased regional security risks and will ultimately harm the Philippines' own interests, said Ge. 

Chen also noted that China's measured, proportionate countermeasures also serve as a warning to certain Philippine politicians not to trifle with China, exploit the goodwill of the Chinese people, or treat bilateral relations as a political game. When politicians treat state policy as a playground for personal agendas, their lies will ultimately inflict severe damage upon their own nation.