Metro Manila, Philippines – China’s diplomats may be expelled from the Philippines over alleged efforts to interfere in the upcoming midterm elections, Senator Francis Tolentino said Wednesday, April 30.
Tolentino, chairman of the Senate special committee on maritime and admiralty zones, raised the possibility in separate media interviews, following a report by the National Security Council (NSC) indicating signs of Chinese attempts to influence the May polls.
NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya disclosed during a Senate hearing that Chinese state-sponsored operations have employed “local proxies,” including social media influencers, to shape public opinion in favor of pro-China candidates.
A re-electionist himself, Tolentino said such tactics align with China’s previous interference strategies in other countries.
“I recall… incidents that transpired in Canada, 2019 and [2021] wherein they meddled in the elections in Canada and the Canadian Parliament produced a 194-page report detailing the interference done by China which led to the expulsion, pagpapatalsik ng mga diplomats ng China sa Canada, sa Ottawa,” Tolentino said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum.
“I look forward to seeing the day when we will be expelling some Chinese diplomats because of this incident,” he said in another media interview, based on a press release from his office.
The senator also criticized the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for its “slow” response, noting the department has yet to release a formal statement. Still, he acknowledged that diplomatic sensitivities may be delaying any action.
Tolentino urged the DFA to summon Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian to explain the alleged acts of intrusion and espionage, including the arrests of suspected Chinese spies and the discovery of underwater surveillance drones believed to have been deployed by Beijing.
China has denied interfering in Philippine elections, asserting that it does not meddle in the internal affairs of other countries. However, Tolentino said he has obtained a check and supporting documents allegedly linking the Chinese Embassy to the hiring of Makati-based marketing firm InfinitUs, which was reportedly tasked with operating “keyboard warriors” or online trolls to sway public opinion in the Philippines.
“Not even the Chinese embassy can dispute the documents I presented,” he said.
Tolentino views the alleged election interference and espionage an extension of China’s “unlawful actions” as it continues to claim areas in the West Philippine Sea as its own.
On Wednesday, Tolentino also filed a resolution urging the Senate to strongly condemn China’s “provocative and illegal actions” in Sandy Cay and other maritime features within the West Philippine Sea.
