Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s excesses could destabilize China internally and damage its international relations.

In an interview on Monday in Palawan, Teodoro emphasized the need for swift action to prevent China from continuing its unlawful activities, especially its blocking of Philippine resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea.

“We cannot discuss everything, but what we know is that the Communist Party of China won’t back down unless we stop them, including their internal spread of undesirable activities,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro also criticized Beijing’s exploitation of sites near Philippine waters and highlighted the arrest of Chinese nationals involved in illegal activities, such as gambling and running illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

“The latest operation was in Grande Island in Subic, a joint operation,” he said.

The Department of National Defense had proposed converting the 42-hectare Grande Island and the smaller Chiquita Island into military outposts after a Chinese national was arrested for espionage and other activities that threaten national security.

Teodoro said that Chinese nationals arrested in the Philippines were involved in illegal activities.

“The issue is these are illegal activities. Recently, China executed four Canadians. That shows it’s not China per se, but a political clique that disregards everything,” Teodoro said.

He condemned Xi’s harmful policies, saying, “This is all because of Xi Jinping and his excessiveness. He is destroying the leadership of his party in China and the goodwill built by his predecessors.”