Latest news with #FrancisTolentino
The Star
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Philippines summons Chinese envoy over sanctions against former senator
MANILA: The Philippines' foreign ministry has summoned China's ambassador to Manila over Beijing's imposition of sanctions against former senator Francis Tolentino, the president's office said on Tuesday (July 8). Tolentino, who lost his bid for a second term in the Philippines' midterm elections in May, was banned from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau over "egregious conduct" detrimental to relations between Manila and Beijing. Tolentino helped in approving laws last year that defined the country's sea lanes and maritime zones, which China opposed. He also accused the Chinese embassy of contracting a firm that maintains troll farms to sow disinformation. "The imposition of punitive measures... is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states," presidential press officer Claire Castro told a briefing. Manila's foreign ministry said it summoned Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian (pic) on Friday. China's embassy in Manila said in a statement the ambassador notified the Philippines' foreign ministry of China's decision to impose sanctions on Tolentino. "It should be noted that such sanctions fall purely within China's legal prerogative, and there are consequences for hurting China's interests," the embassy said. The Chinese foreign ministry has previously accused some Filipino politicians of making "malicious remarks and moves" that hurt ties between the two nations. Relations between China and the Philippines have soured under President Ferdinand Marcos over a longstanding dispute in the South China Sea. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled Beijing's sweeping claims to the waterway had no basis in international law. China has rejected the decision. Several other countries in South-East Asia also claim parts of the South China Sea. - Reuters
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over travel ban on former senator
The Philippine foreign ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian after Beijing hit the former Senate majority leader with a travel ban for his stance on the South China Sea. Francis Tolentino, a key ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, has been barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry last week. Beijing said the ban was the result of his 'egregious conduct on China-related issues'. During a press briefing on Tuesday, Claire Castro, a presidential spokeswoman, read out a statement from the Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro that said: 'The [Department of Foreign Affairs] conveyed to the Chinese side that while the imposition of such sanctions falls within China's legal prerogative, the imposition of punitive measures against democratically elected officials for their official acts is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states.' Lazaro said that the foreign ministry 'reminded the ambassador that as a democracy, the Philippines values freedom of expression', and emphasised that senators and other elected officials had a mandate to inquire into issues of national interest. 'The department remains committed to addressing differences through diplomacy and dialogue and looks forward to continued constructive engagement with China to promote mutual understanding,' the statement added. The Chinese embassy said that Huang had told the Philippine foreign ministry that 'some anti-China politicians in the Philippines have adopted a series of malicious words and deeds on issues related to China for their own selfish interests'.
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
China tells PH: Sanctions vs. Tolentino within our legal prerogative
The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Tuesday insisted its right to sanction former senator Francis Tolentino despite protests from the Philippine government, saying its action is within its legal prerogative. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xillian was summoned by the Department of Foreign Affairs' Asia-Pacific division Friday to convey its strong protest for his government's decision to ban Tolentino from traveling to mainland China, including its special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, over accusations of "egregious conduct on China-related issues." "The ambassador notified the DFA of the Philippines of China's decision to impose sanctions on former senator Francis Tolentino, and emphasized that for quite some time, driven by selfish interests, a handful of anti-China politicians in the Philippines have made malicious remarks and moves on issues related to China that are detrimental to China's interests and China-Philippines relations," an embassy statement said. It stressed that the Chinese government is "firmly resolved to defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests." Tolentino, who authored bills protecting the country's maritime zones in the West Philippine Sea, the stretch of waters in the South China Sea closer to the Philippines' western coast, sought reelection in last May's midterm polls, but lost. "Such sanctions fall purely within China's legal prerogative, and there are consequences for hurting China's interests," the embassy said. It warned that Tolentino's actions against China and "instigation of confrontation" will only "backfire, and ultimately harm the interest of the Philippines and Filipino people." For its part, the DFA reminded the envoy that the Philippines is a "democracy" that values "freedom of expression." "In the Philippines' adherence to the constitutional separation of powers among the three branches of government, it is the mandate of Senators and other elected officials to inquire on matters of national and public interests," the DFA said. The DFA said it is committed to addressing differences through diplomacy and dialogue while engaging China in a "constructive" manner "to promote mutual understanding." Relations between the two Asian neighbors plunged to its lowest in recent years after Chinese Coast Guard, Navy and suspected maritime militia ships have used high-pressure water cannons and dangerous maritime maneuvers to Philippine ships or vessels China has accused of entering its territorial waters illegally. An arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands in 2016 nullified China's massive claim over the resource-rich South China Sea, including areas within the waters that fall under Manila's territory. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Philippines summons China's ambassador after Beijing sanctions critical former senator
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China's ambassador to Manila was summoned after Beijing imposed sanctions on a former Filipino senator who has been critical of China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea, Philippine officials said Tuesday. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week that it was indefinitely prohibiting former Philippine senator Francis Tolentino from entering China and its territories of Hong Kong and Macao. The ministry alluded to Tolentino as being among anti-China politicians who have resorted to 'malicious words and deeds' that have harmed China's interests and undermined China-Philippines relations. "The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests,' the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Philippine officials said the barring of Tolentino was 'inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect.' The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila summoned China's Ambassador Huang Xilian on Friday and conveyed to him its concern over China's sanctions. "While the imposition of such sanctions falls within China's legal prerogative, the imposition of punitive measures against democratically elected officials for their official acts is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states,' Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said in a statement. "The department reminded the ambassador that, as a democracy, the Philippines values freedom of expression,' Lazaro said, adding that elected officials have a responsibility to inquire into issues concerning national and public interests. The Chinese Embassy in Manila said Tuesday that imposing such sanctions falls "purely within China's legal prerogative and there are consequences for hurting China's interests.' 'Tolentino's malicious smear against China and instigation of confrontation will only backfire and ultimately harm the interest of the Philippines and Filipino people,' the Chinese embassy said in a statement. Tolentino, whose Senate term ended last month, authored two bills — the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act — that reaffirmed the extent of the offshore territories of the Philippines and right to resources, including in the South China Sea. He ran for reelection but lost. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the two bills in November, angering China which claims the hotly disputed waterway almost in its entirety. Tolentino has also accused China of planning to interfere in the mid-term elections in May in the Philippines, and had launched an investigation into alleged Chinese espionage when he was still a senator. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the South China Sea have spiked in recent years, sparking concern that the United States — Manila's longtime treaty ally — may get drawn in a major conflict. Washington lays no claims in the busy waters, a key global trade route, but has warned that it's obligated to defend the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.
Hamilton Spectator
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Philippines summons China's ambassador after Beijing sanctions critical former senator
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China's ambassador to Manila was summoned after Beijing imposed sanctions on a former Filipino senator who has been critical of China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea, Philippine officials said Tuesday. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week that it was indefinitely prohibiting former Philippine senator Francis Tolentino from entering China and its territories of Hong Kong and Macao. The ministry alluded to Tolentino as being among anti-China politicians who have resorted to 'malicious words and deeds' that have harmed China's interests and undermined China-Philippines relations. 'The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests,' the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Philippine officials said the barring of Tolentino was 'inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect.' The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila summoned China's Ambassador Huang Xilian on Friday and conveyed to him its concern over China's sanctions. 'While the imposition of such sanctions falls within China's legal prerogative, the imposition of punitive measures against democratically elected officials for their official acts is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states,' it said in a statement. 'The department reminded the ambassador that, as a democracy, the Philippines values freedom of expression,' it said, adding that elected officials have a responsibility to inquire into issues concerning national and public interests. There was no immediate comment from China. Tolentino, whose Senate term ended last month, authored two bills — the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act — that reaffirmed the extent of the offshore territories of the Philippines and right to resources, including in the South China Sea. He ran for reelection but lost. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the two bills in November, angering China which claims the hotly disputed waterway almost in its entirety. Tolentino has also accused China of planning to interfere in the mid-term elections in May in the Philippines, and had launched an investigation into alleged Chinese espionage when he was still a senator. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the South China Sea have spiked in recent years, sparking concern that the United States — Manila's longtime treaty ally — may get drawn in a major conflict. Washington lays no claims in the busy waters, a key global trade route, but has warned that it's obligated to defend the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
