Latest news with #ChineseMinistryOfForeignAffairs
Al Arabiya
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Philippines Summons China's Ambassador After Beijing Sanctions Critical Former Senator
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 US – 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.
Arab News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
China sanctions former Filipino lawmaker who defended Philippines' South China Sea claims
BANGKOK: China sanctioned a former Filipino lawmaker Tuesday over perceived 'anti-China' positions, including his authorship of bills that marked out the Philippines' territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. Francis Tolentino, who has just finished serving his term as majority leader of the Philippine Senate, is prohibited from entering China as well as the territories of Hong Kong and Macao, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'For some time, 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, which have harmed China's interests and undermined China-Philippines relations,' said the statement. 'The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests.' In a statement on X Tuesday, Tolentino said he will 'continue to fight — for what rightfully belongs to our nation,' adding the sanction was a badge of honor and that no foreign power could silence him. Tolentino authored two bills which marked out the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea. The two laws, called the Philippine Maritime Zones act, and a second one called the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes act, were signed into law last November. The laws reaffirmed the extent of the country's maritime territories in the South China Sea and right to resources from these areas. The laws drew quick condemnation and dismissal of their legitimacy from China, which claims virtually all of the South China Sea. 'Any objections from China must be met with unwavering defense of our sovereign rights and adherence to lawful arbitration outcomes,' said Tolentino at the time. Tolentino 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. The Philippines and China have been engaged in verbal and physical clashes over their claims in the offshore region. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea have become increasingly common in the past two years, with the Philippine side publicizing videos of Chinese boats firing water cannons.
Al Arabiya
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
China Sanctions Former Filipino Lawmaker Over South China Sea Claims
China sanctioned a former Filipino lawmaker Tuesday over legislation that marks out the Philippines' territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. Francis Tolentino, who has just finished serving his term as majority leader of the Philippine Senate, is prohibited from entering China, as well as the territories of Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'For some time, 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, which have harmed China's interests and undermined China–Philippines relations,' said the statement. 'The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests.' In a statement on X Tuesday, Tolentino said he will continue to fight for what rightfully belongs to our nation, adding the sanction was a 'badge of honor' and that no foreign power could silence him. Tolentino sponsored a bill called the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which was signed into law last November. That law and a second one called the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act reaffirmed the extent of the country's maritime territories in the South China Sea and right to resources from these areas. The laws drew quick condemnation and dismissal of their legitimacy from China, which claims virtually all of the South China Sea. 'Any objections from China must be met with unwavering defense of our sovereign rights and adherence to lawful arbitration outcomes,' said Tolentino at the time. The Philippines and China have been engaged in verbal and physical clashes over their claims in the offshore region. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea have become increasingly common in the past two years, with the Philippine side publicizing videos of Chinese boats firing water cannons.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
China sanctions former Filipino lawmaker over South China Sea claims
China sanctioned a former Filipino lawmaker Tuesday over legislation that marks out the Philippines' territorial claims in the disputed South China Seas. Francis Tolentino, who has just finished serving his term as majority leader of the Philippine Senate, is prohibited from entering China as well as the territories of Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "For some time, 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, which have harmed China's interests and undermined China-Philippines relations," said the statement. "The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests." In a statement on X Tuesday, Tolentino said he will 'continue to fight — for what rightfully belongs to our nation," adding the sanction was a badge of honor and that no foreign power could silence him. Tolentino sponsored a bill called the Philippine Maritime Zones act, which was signed into law last November. That law and a second one called the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes act, reaffirmed the extent of the country's maritime territories in the South China Sea and right to resources from these areas. The laws drew quick condemnation and dismissal of their legitimacy from China, which claims virtually all of the South China Sea. 'Any objections from China must be met with unwavering defense of our sovereign rights and adherence to lawful arbitration outcomes,' said Tolentino at the time. The Philippines and China have been engaged in verbal and physical clashes over their claims in the offshore region. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea have become increasingly common in the past two years, with the Philippine side publicizing videos of Chinese boats firing water cannons.
Al Jazeera
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Philippines accuses China of ‘aggressive' tactics in South China Sea
The Philippines fisheries bureau has accused China's coastguard of firing water cannon and sideswiping a Filipino government vessel during a research voyage in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources condemned on Thursday what it said was the 'aggressive interference' of the Chinese coastguard against the Datu Sanday and a second ship during the incident on Wednesday. The encounter occurred near a group of small sandbanks in the Spratly Islands where two Filipino ships were collecting sand samples 'as part of a marine scientific research initiative', the Philippine statement said. 'At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice … putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel.' The 'aggressive interference, dangerous maneuvers, and illegal acts' damaged the Philippine ship's port bow and smokestack, according to the bureau's statement. It was the first time water cannon were used against Philippine vessels near the disputed Sandy Cay reef, the bureau added. The Philippines scientific team was still able 'to complete its operations in Pag-Asa Cays 1, 2 and 3', the statement added, using the Philippine term for the Sandy Cays. The Chinese coastguard said in a statement that the Philippine vessel 'dangerously' approached its ship, resulting in the collision. It added that the Filipino vessel 'illegally intruded' into the waters of Sany Cay. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said she was not aware of the incident. 'What I can tell you is that the Chinese coastguard always enforces the law in accordance with laws and regulations,' she said. Beijing claims it has sovereignyy rights over almost the entire South China Sea, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. The Philippines and China have engaged in several confrontations in the South China Sea. Last month, the Philippines denounced as 'irresponsible' a Chinese state media report claiming that Sandy Cay 2 was put under China's control. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the country's coastguard had 'implemented maritime control' over Tiexian Reef in mid-April. China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal found Beijing's sweeping claims had no basis under international law, a decision China rejects.
