Beijing sanctions South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino

China has announced sanctions on former Philippine Senate leader Francis Tolentino, a key ally of the Southeast Asian country’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on South China Sea issues.

Beijing accused Tolentino of “egregious conduct on China-related issues” and will bar the former Philippine lawmaker – whose term ended yesterday – from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

“For some time now, individual anti-China politicians in the Philippines have adopted a series of malicious words and deeds on China-related issues for their own selfish interests, undermining China’s interests and damaging China-Philippines relations,” it said, in a statement released on Tuesday.

“The Chinese government’s determination to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering,” it added.

Tolentino was a principal author of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, legislation that asserts Manila’s claims in the South China Sea and was signed by Marcos in late 2024, and which has been strongly pushed back by Beijing.

He also led a Senate investigation into alleged Chinese espionage activities within the Philippines.