Metro Manila, Philippines – Senators are leaving it to the executive branch to defend the country’s institutions as the Chinese Embassy in Manila continues to verbally attack the Senate following the passage of a resolution calling out its public tirades against Filipino officials.
“The ball now is in the court of the Department of Foreign Affairs and, of course, the Office of the President,” Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said in a chance interview with reporters on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
“We urge them… to act in defense of our institutions, iyan ang panawagan natin sa DFA [that is our call to the DFA] and they should act right away,” Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan sponsored the resolution condemning China’s public statements against Filipino officials, including Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela.
Tarriela’s use of caricatures of Chinese President Xi Jinping sparked weeks of exchanges between Chinese and Filipino officials.
Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said Beijing rejects and condemns the Senate resolution, dismissing it as a “political stunt” and accused senators of lacking knowledge of diplomacy.
“What they’ve done is for their own political interest. Such behavior only disgraces themselves. However, the price of their hypocrisy, ignorance, and recklessness, is paid by the ordinary people,” Ji said.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III pushed back, criticizing Ji’s remarks against the chamber.
“He is claiming that we are intimidating Chinese diplomats yet he continues to speak disrespectfully against us and calling the senate resolution a mere political stunt. I can say the same thing to him that he knows little about how diplomacy works,” Sotto said.
“Respect begets respect,” he added.
Pangilinan added: “The Chinese embassy’s undiplomatic and boorish response to the official act of the Philippine Senate, in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, only proves that China is indeed a bully, has no respect for international law and their acts deserving of condemnation.”
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros also reminded China that the resolution is a legitimate and appropriate tool for Philippine lawmakers to express their concern. She also blasted China’s harassment activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“Indeed, we can file 100 resolutions and the situation won’t improve because the real problem facing the Philippines isn’t the Chinese embassy descending to the level of the common internet troll. The real problem is the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy, Chinese Coast Guard, and Maritime Militia’s coercive behavior in the West Philippine Sea – water cannoning innocent fisherfolk, hindering freedom of navigation in our own EEZ (exclusive economic zone), and ramming our vessels,” Hontiveros said.
Asked about the Senate foreign relations committee’s next steps in response to China’s latest public statements, panel chair Senator Erwin Tulfo said he is leaving the matter to the DFA.
He emphasized the importance of giving way to ongoing negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, which aims to define acceptable actions among claimant states in disputed waters.
Tulfo also suggested summoning the Chinese ambassador.
“Dapat sabihin ni Secretary [Ma. Theresa] Lazaro, tone down… kayo muna mag-tone down kasi bisita namin kayo,” he said.
[Translation: Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro should tell them to tone down their statements first, as they are guests in the country.]
