Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday said that the Chinese government, not the Philippine government, was the main cause of sinophobia.

Sinophobia is the fear, hatred or intense dislike of China, its people and culture.

“Hindi dapat natin idamay ang taumbayan ng China dito sa ginagawa ng diktadurya ng Chinese Communist Party (CCP) na naninira ng goodwill at anumang trust and confidence na dapat meron ang mga tao sa China dahil sa kanilang interes na manatili sa poder,” Teodoro told reporters in a chance interview in Mandaluyong City.

Teodoro criticized the Chinese government for accusing the Philippines of fueling anti-Chinese sentiment.

“If ever there is sinophobia, gawa ng overreach ng Chinese Communist Party at ni Xi Jinping. Hindi lamang sa buong mundo, kundi taumbayan nila mismo. Kaya nagiging resulta nito ang pagkawala ng tiwala ng tao sa common Chinese person na hindi naman dapat,” the defense chief said.

“So, napakalaking disservice ng ginagawa ng gobyerno nila,” he added.

Teodoro cited China’s National Intelligence Law passed in June 2017, which “mandates every Chinese national to be an intelligence operative of the Ministry of State Security.”

“Sila ang pumako sa sarili nila sa krus,” he said.

Earlier this month, the Chinese Embassy in Manila claimed that Chinese nationals in the Philippines have been facing “higher security risks.”

The embassy released a "safety reminder to Chinese citizens in or traveling" to the country, "considering the recent unstable public security situation."

The embassy said there was a "growingly frequent harassment of Chinese citizens and businesses" and “more frequent occurrence of political assemblies, protests and demonstrations nationwide."

China warns Chinese citizens over ‘unstable public security’ in PH

But Malacañang denied that the Philippine government was targeting Chinese nationals in the country.

“We can assure China na hindi tayo nagta-target ng kahit anong nationality,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on April 2.

“Lahat ay welcome except kapag gumagawa ng krimen… i-implement po natin ang batas,” she added.

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