Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday raised 'serious concern' over the word war between the Chinese Embassy in Manila and Filipino lawmakers. The agency said it had lodged 'firm representations' with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan and the Chinese Embassy to express its concern over the "escalation of public exchanges" and called for circumspection in language and actions. 'We reiterate our previous statements affirming support for our officials to perform their lawful duties in defense of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction,' it said. 'Their views, as well as those of disagreeing voices, are an inescapable part of the robust plurality of ideas that animate our democratic society.'
According to Philippines News Agency, the DFA said the Philippines values debate on differences in national positions, but underscored the need for 'sober, professional and respectful exchanges in the public sphere.' It emphasized that circumspection is necessary to avoid derailing diplomatic space needed to manage the tensions in the maritime domain and 'constructively collaborate' in non-sensitive areas of cooperation. The agency highlighted that the two nations, despite an ongoing maritime dispute, could still establish formal communication channels between the two coast guards, develop scientific cooperation on ocean meteorology, and reinvigorate trade and investment ties, agriculture cooperation, and people-to-people interaction.
In her privilege speech at the resumption of Congress on Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros warned against interference by the Chinese Embassy in Philippine democratic discourse, stressing that foreign missions are bound by international law to respect the country's sovereignty. She said freedom of speech does not give representatives of a foreign government license to intimidate or silence Filipinos on Philippine soil. 'Nasa Pilipinas tayo. At dito, Pilipino ang nasusunod (We are in the Philippines, and here, Filipinos decide),' Hontiveros said.
Senator Francis Pangilinan stated that criticisms from China should not distract from the reality that Philippine actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are defensive and lawful. 'Hindi provocation ang pagdepensa -- sa salita at sa gawa -- sa ating mga karapatan bilang isang bansa (Defending our rights as a nation, in word and in deed, is not provocation),' Pangilinan said. Senator Erwin Tulfo also rebuked the Chinese Embassy for policing criticisms made by Filipino officials over Chinese activities in the WPS.
The Chinese Embassy publicly criticized several Filipino officials, including Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela, who have spoken out against China's activities in the disputed territory. In a separate statement, the National Security Council described the public statements by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Manila as 'undiplomatic and uncalled for,' saying these go beyond individual officials and undermine Philippine institutions.
Over the weekend, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines condemned the same Chinese department for accusing certain Philippine uniformed personnel of 'habitually inciting confrontation' about the WPS. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun claimed on Jan. 19 that some Philippine service members were 'driven by personal political motives' and had 'repeatedly made outrageous and absurd statements.'
