Manila: Filipinos will not be intimidated from speaking out in defense of the country's sovereign rights, Malaca±ang said Wednesday, following reports that China has imposed sanctions on former senator Francis Tolentino over his remarks on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that every Filipino who is pro-Philippines cannot be silenced or stopped from defending the nation's national and maritime rights. Castro highlighted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s steadfast commitment to maintaining the country's territorial integrity, quoting him as saying, "We will not yield even an inch of our territory to any foreign power."

China's Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that sanctions had been imposed against Tolentino, whose term as senator ended Monday, citing his "egregious conduct" concerning the WPS dispute. These sanctions include a ban on Tolentino from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau.

In response, Tolentino issued a statement declaring that no foreign power could silence him or weaken his resolve to uphold Philippine sovereignty. He referred to the sanctions as a "badge of honor."

China continues to assert sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a region abundant in resources that overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. An international arbitral tribunal ruled in 2016 that China's sweeping claims have no basis in international law, a decision that China rejects as it persists with its activities in the disputed areas.