Beijing puts sanctions on former Philippine senator

Beijing announced its decision on Tuesday to impose sanctions against former Philippine senator Francis Tolentino for "his egregious conduct on China-related issues".

The sanctions prohibit Tolentino from entering the Chinese mainland or the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, the Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement.

"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," the statement said.

The Chinese government firmly resolves to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, the statement added.

Tolentino is former chairman of the Philippine Senate's Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones.

Observers noted that Tolentino smeared China during the recent midterm election campaign, and has been pushing for passage of laws in recent years that target China's sovereignty and lawful rights and interests regarding the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.

In April, local media reported that he had accused the Chinese embassy in the Philippines of intervening in the country's midterm election campaign.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, noted that "Beijing has been prudent in sanctioning foreign individuals", and Tolentino became the first Philippine politician sanctioned by China in recent years for the huge damage he has inflicted on bilateral ties.

"In the parliament, he had been radical and bearing prejudice against China when it came to topics such as the South China Sea, dealing great harm to bilateral governmental efforts in peacefully handling the South China Sea issue," Chen said.

The fresh sanctions "send a clear signal to this region and the world that China will not sit idly if anyone attempts to infringe on the country's interests and the region's peace and stability", Chen added.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, when asked about the sanctions on Tuesday, said, "I would like to emphasize that there are consequences for hurting China's interests."