Jamaine Punzalan

Ambassador Huang Xilian graces the Manila forum for Philippines-China relations at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City on August 21, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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PH- CHINA ECONOMIC RELATIONS

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175194718194620240821-philippines-china-economic-relations-JC4304.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Ambassador Huang Xilian graces the Manila forum for Philippines-China relations at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City on August 21, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File </div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian &quot;to convey the Philippines&#x27; concern over China&#x27;s imposition of sanctions against former Senator Francis Tolentino,&quot; Malacañang said Tuesday.&quot;The DFA statement conveyed to the Chinese side that, while the imposition of such sanctions falls within China&#x27;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,&quot; according to a statement read by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a briefing.&quot;The Department also reminded the Ambassador that as a democracy, the Philippines 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,&quot; the statement read.&quot;The Department remains committed to addressing differences through diplomacy and dialogue, and looks forward to continued constructive engagement with China to promote mutual understanding.&quot;Beijing last week said it <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/1/china-imposes-sanction-vs-tolentino-ex-senator-calls-it-badge-of-honor-1330">imposed sanctions on Tolentino </a>over his &quot;egregious conduct on China-related issues,&quot; identifying him among the &quot;handful of anti-China politicians in the Philippines.&quot;Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the sanctions included barring Tolentino entry to the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. &quot;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,&quot; the ministry said.China did not cite Tolentino&#x27;s particular actions that triggered the move, but the former senator has accused Beijing of <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/23/-tip-of-the-iceberg-tolentino-slams-china-over-alleged-string-of-espionage-activities-1831">espionage activities</a>, harassment of Filipino fishermen, among others.He also <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/8/philippine-maritime-zones-act-at-archipelagic-sea-lanes-act-ganap-nang-mga-batas-1936">authored the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Ac</a>t in a bid to bolster the country&#x27;s claims in the West Philippine Sea.Tolentino said his actions were &quot;for defending the rights, dignity, and sovereignty of the Filipino people in the West Philippine Sea.&quot;He said China&#x27;s sanction was a &quot;badge of honor.&quot; Malacanang earlier said that China cannot silence Filipinos from defending their country’s maritime rights and reiterated its position that it will not yield the Philippines’ maritime rights to any foreign country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian "to convey the Philippines' concern over China's imposition of sanctions against former Senator Francis Tolentino," Malacañang said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian "to convey the Philippines' concern over China's imposition of sanctions against former Senator Francis Tolentino," Malacañang said.

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Philippines summons China envoy over sanctions vs Tolentino

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 08, 2025 12:03 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 08, 2025 12:47 PM PHT

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