Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Philippine defence chief rejects China criticism as 'squid tactic'
Two countries, the Philippines and China, are having a big argument.
The Philippines says it caught some Chinese workers doing bad things at a steel factory.
The Chinese government says those workers were legal and that the Philippines is being unfair.
Then China said it caught more than 100 Philippine workers breaking the rules in China.
The Philippine defense leader, Gilberto Teodoro, does not think that is fair and called it a trick.
He says China is using a 'squid tactic,' which means shooting out confusing words to avoid answering real questions.
China's spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, says Teodoro has been attacking and insulting China.
Teodoro says the Chinese arrest of Philippine workers was like blackmail.
He also says Chinese embassy officials tried to interfere in Philippine law enforcement.
The two countries have been mad at each other for months now.
This started getting worse in June when China put sanctions on Teodoro.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro rejected China's accusation that he has 'consistently attacked and smeared' Beijing.
Teodoro branded the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement a 'classic squid tactic,' which he described as disinformation through avoidance.
He defended the May law-enforcement operation at a steel facility in Misamis Oriental, saying the arrest of Chinese nationals was lawful and supported by court-issued search warrants.
Beijing confirmed on August 10 that its immigration authorities had taken action against more than 100 Philippine nationals for illegally working or living in China.
Teodoro condemned China's action as 'plain and simple extortion and blackmail,' escalating a dispute that began when China imposed sanctions on him in June.
- Who
- Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun
- What
- A diplomatic dispute over each country's law-enforcement actions against the other's nationals, with Teodoro rejecting Chinese criticism as a 'squid tactic'
- When
- August 2026, with statements on August 10, August 13, and August 15, building on tensions since June
- Where
- The Philippines (Manila and Misamis Oriental) and China
- Why
- The Philippines and China disagree over the legality of arrests and immigration actions against each other's citizens
Philippine Government's View
Chinese Government's View
May steel facility operation
Philippine Government's View
The arrest of Chinese nationals was lawful and supported by evidence gathered through court-issued search warrants, citing violations such as production of substandard, radioactively tainted steel.
Chinese Government's View
The Chinese citizens were legally working in the Philippines, and Philippine authorities led efforts to apprehend them; Teodoro has consistently attacked and smeared China.
Immigration action against nationals
Philippine Government's View
China's action against more than 100 Philippine nationals is 'plain and simple extortion and blackmail.'
Chinese Government's View
The operations were lawful, and immigration officials acted in a 'standard and civil manner' while protecting the rights of those involved.
Chinese embassy conduct
Philippine Government's View
Chinese embassy officials intervened in Philippine law-enforcement processes and threatened retaliation against Filipinos, as revealed in a Senate hearing.
Chinese Government's View
No such conduct was acknowledged; Beijing instead accused Teodoro of damaging China-Philippines bilateral relations and the interests of the Philippine state and its people.
- Date of report
- August 15, 2026 (Manila)
- Philippine Defense Secretary
- Gilberto Teodoro
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
- Guo Jiakun
- Location of May operation
- Steel facility in Misamis Oriental, Philippines
- Alleged violations cited
- Substandard, radioactively tainted steel; dumped polluted water; toxic emissions
- Philippine nationals targeted in China
- More than 100, for illegally working or living in China
- China's action confirmed on
- August 10
- Teodoro's condemnation statement
- August 13, calling China's action 'plain and simple extortion and blackmail'
- Sanctions on Teodoro
- Imposed by China in June, after he called China a 'severe threat'