Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 11) – Amid the call of lawmakers to declare Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian persona non grata following the two water cannon incidents in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said this action merits “serious consideration.”
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza on Monday said declaring an ambassador persona non grata can be done by the host government if the envoy does something that is unwelcome, but she stressed this action is an extreme measure that will have intended and unintended consequences.
\”With this case, I think it is something that will have to be seriously considered whether the incidents or the series of incidents merit having him be a persona non grata,\” she said in a media briefing.
Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, when a diplomat is declared persona non grata, the sending State can either recall them or terminate their functions. If the sending State refuses or fails to carry out the declaration, the host State may refuse to recognize the person concerned as an ambassador.
Daza, however, called on Huang to perform his duty to bring the Philippines and China closer.
\”We are calling that he will try to do his best to actually enhance the relations between the two countries just as we expect our ambassadors posted abroad to do the same,\” she added.
Senate President Migz Zubiri, among other lawmakers, said Huang should be sent back to China since he has \”done nothing\” despite increased tensions in the West Philippine Sea, while Senator JV Ejercito wanted the ambassador declared persona non grata.
