Hontiveros urges DFA to call out Chinese embassy: ‘Bad guest, pa-victim’

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros said the Department of Foreign Affairs should call the attention of the Chinese embassy in Manila amid its verbal attacks against Filipino officials defending the country’s stance in the West Philippine Sea. 

“The Chinese embassy is being a bad guest here, dito sa Pilipinas. Dapat mas magpakita sila ng respeto sa kanilang host country, sa atin,” Hontiveros said during the Kapihan sa Senado media forum on Wednesday, Jan. 21. 

[Translation: The Chinese embassy is being a bad guest here in the Philippines. They should show more respect to their host country—to us.]

“Masyado namang pa-victim ang pag-uugali ng Chinese embassy dito sa Manila [The Chinese embassy here has been acting like its the victim],” she added, noting that it was China that carried out harassment and incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

Hontiveros wrote a formal letter to DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on Jan. 19 seeking clarification on what actions were taken in response to the Chinese embassy’s social media post against Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela.

Asked what she believes the DFA should do, Hontiveros said: “Pwedeng i-call ng DFA ang attention ng Chinese embassy dito sa Manila tungkol nga sa kanilang unacceptable na behavior at paalalahanan sila na mayroong Vienna Convention na dapat nilang ino-observe at hindi nilalabag.”

[Translation: The agency could formally call the attention of the Chinese Embassy in Manila regarding its unacceptable behavior and remind it to observe—and not violate—the Vienna Convention.]

Hontiveros said she is still waiting for the DFA’s response.

In the post in question, the Chinese embassy criticized Tarriela for sharing altered photos of Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling it a “serious violation of China’s political dignity and a blatant political provocation, which has crossed the red line.”

The images were part of Tarriela’s presentation as keynote speaker at an academic event and appeared in the background of a photo he posted.

The embassy further said Tarriela “has persistently hyped up maritime issues, confounded right and wrong, misrepresented facts, incited confrontation, misled public opinion, undermined China’s national interests and dignity, impacted mutual trust and cooperation between China and the Philippines, and disrupted diplomatic efforts to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.” 

The Chinese embassy and Tarriela have since been engaged in a public exchange of statements.

Hontiveros noted that similar attacks have been directed at other Philippine officials and institutions, including Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Rep. Leila de Lima, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, and the National Maritime Council.

The Philippines and China have overlapping claims in the West Philippine Sea. Despite the 2016 arbitral ruling recognizing the Philippines’ rights within its exclusive economic zone, China continues to refuse to recognize the landmark decision.