China weaponizing commodities, people amid territorial row, says Teodoro

China is weaponizing not just its commodities against the Philippines, but its own people, according to Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro on Thursday.

Diplomatic tensions between Manila and Beijing have flared after Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan said China would easily win if it used force in the West Philippine Sea, a remark that earned condemnation from many Filipino leaders.

"Dito naman sa ekonomiya, sa araw-araw mong binibili, um-over naman tayo ng asa sa China, at ang China, hindi katulad ng ibang bansa, niwe-weaponize nila ang commodities, pati tao. 'Di ba may threat na 'uy, kung hulihin niyo 'yung mga iligal na ginagawa ng aming kababayan dyan, pauwiin namin 'yung mga OFW (overseas Filipino workers) niyo,'" Teodoro said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(Regarding the economy, with your everyday consumption, we have relied too much on China, and China, unlike other countries, has weaponized their commodities, even people. There is a threat of 'oh, if you catch the illegal things that our countrymen do there, we will send your OFWs home.')

"Kaya pati tao wini-weaponize. Ngayon, ang task ng gobyerno maghanap ng alternatibong markets at saka mag-industrialize ang Pilipinas para sa ganoon kaya natin gumawa, at least at a bare minimum, na ikinabubuhay ng ating bansa na kailangan talaga kasi nagkakaroon ng gipitan ng mga commodities sa mundo," Teodoro added.

(Even people are being weaponized. Now, the task of the government is to look for alternative markets and then industrialize the Philippines so that we can manufacture, at least at a bare minimum, something that our country could live on, which is really needed because of the tightening of commodities around the world.)

Beijing previously apprehended over 100 Filipinos in China for alleged immigration violations, an act that Teodoro had previously called extortion and blackmail.

Teodoro said that there were markets outside of China such as India, which has large-scale production.

While he admitted that it would cost money to change since the country was used to China's supply trade, Teodoro reiterated that it was important to have a wide supply chain so that the Philippines was not overdependent. — VDV, GMA News