Philippines Summons Chinese Envoy Over Sanctions Against Ex-Senator

The Philippines has summoned China's ambassador to Manila to protest Beijing's sanctions against former senator Francis Tolentino, who was barred from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau due to alleged "egregious conduct" detrimental to bilateral relations. Philippine officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Presidential Press Officer Claire Castro, condemned the sanctions as inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue between sovereign states, emphasizing the country's democratic principles, freedom of expression, and legislative independence. Tolentino had accused China's embassy of interfering in Philippine politics and authored maritime laws challenging China's claims in the South China Sea, a region of ongoing territorial disputes. The Philippine government reiterated its commitment to resolving disputes through diplomacy and dialogue, while China accused some Filipino politicians of malicious acts harming bilateral ties. This diplomatic tension occurs amid broader regional concerns over China's maritime expansion, with Japan planning to export used naval destroyers to the Philippines to bolster its defense capabilities. Relations between the two countries have been strained under President Ferdinand Marcos due to conflicting claims in the South China Sea, following an international tribunal's 2016 ruling invalidating China's expansive territorial claims, which China rejects.