Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 20) — China denied claims by a lawmaker that Beijing might be funding destabilization efforts in Manila through online trolls, dismissing the allegations as “categorically false and baseless.”
The Chinese embassy in Manila said Filipino politicians should stop hyping up the maritime tension between China and the Philippines.
“Such irresponsible remarks heightened tensions over the South China Sea, poisoned the atmosphere of China-Philippines relations and undermined the diplomatic efforts to manage our differences through dialogue and consultation,” the embassy said in a statement.
“China has always advocated and remains committed to properly managing maritime differences through dialogue and consultation,” it added. “China will keep the door of dialogue and contact open.”
Senator JV Ejercito told reporters on Tuesday that he was a victim of social media attacks from supposed trolls for his stance on China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
He added that the alleged destabilization efforts online also previously targeted House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Philippine Coast Guard’s Commodore Jay Tarriela, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and Senate President Migz Zubiri.
China said those who make such claims should “do more in line with the interests of the Filipino people and China-Philippines friendship, instead of making irresponsible anti-China accusations.”
