The Philippines has called in China’s ambassador to Manila after Beijing imposed sanctions on former senator Francis Tolentino, the President’s Office said on Tuesday.
Tolentino, who lost his bid for a second term in the Philippines’ midterm elections in May, was barred entry to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau over “egregious conduct” detrimental to relations between Manila and Beijing.
‘Inconsistent With The Norms Of Mutual Respect’
“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 Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian was summoned on Friday. The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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.
A 2016 ruling by an international tribunal voided Beijing’s sweeping claims to the region, saying they have no basis in international law, a decision China rejects.
Japan’s Help
Meanwhile, Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China’s maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, as the two US allies increase cooperation to counter Beijing.
The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing multiple unnamed government sources.
Defence ministers Gen Nakatani and Gilberto Teodoro agreed to the destroyer export when they met in Singapore last month, the Yomiuri said, adding that the Philippine military will inspect the ships this summer as part of the final preparations.
A delegation of naval experts from the Philippines will conduct an in-depth assessment of the ships, the Philippine Navy said in a statement on Sunday, following an official invitation from Japan’s defence ministry.
(With inputs from Reuters)
