The Philippines on Wednesday pushed back against threatening Chinese rhetoric over local officials’ actions asserting the country’s rights and sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Tensions between the countries over the vital waterway sharpened this week as Beijing warned against what it described as “smears” by Philippine officials.
This prompted pushback from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), lawmakers, political groups led by the Liberal Party, and renewed assertions of Manila’s commitment to defending its maritime rights under international law.
In a statement, the DFA expressed its support for officials and institutions “that are lawfully defending Philippine sovereignty” in the WPS.
“The DFA reiterates that differences between States are best addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than public exchanges,” it said.
The department said it will continue to articulate the Philippines’ positions on the WPS and the South China Sea “in firm and consistent fashion,” grounded in international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan said on Tuesday night that China “remains committed” to promoting friendship and cooperation with the Philippines — but will firmly respond to what it views as “groundless attacks, smears, and the spread of fake news.”
The diplomatic exchange drew strong reactions from lawmakers and political groups.
Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the DFA to take decisive action against what she described as public attacks by the Chinese Embassy on Philippine officials defending national interests.
“The Chinese Embassy is being a bad guest here in the Philippines. The attacks are a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” Hontiveros said, adding that she expects a formal response from the DFA.
Several cause-oriented and political groups echoed her call.
In a joint statement, the Liberal Party, Akbayan Party, and Mamayang Liberal Party-list, represented by Rep. Leila de Lima, denounced what they called China’s “reckless escalation” after warning Philippine officials to “stop or pay the price.”
“No state has the authority to threaten officials of another sovereign country for speaking publicly about verified developments within their own maritime domain,” the groups said.
They said labeling transparency as provocation was a “cynical attempt” to mislead the international community, arguing that tensions stem from China’s actions in contested waters rather than Philippine disclosures.
The groups urged the DFA to take appropriate diplomatic steps, saying Philippine officials and citizens should not be “intimidated, threatened, and targeted” in their own country by a foreign mission using diplomatic privilege as a platform.
“These developments affect not only the Philippines, but all states with an interest in a rules-based international order,” the statement said, adding that peace in the region depends on respect for international law and proper diplomatic channels.
As diplomatic tensions persisted, the Philippine Navy underscored efforts to strengthen the country’s maritime defense and presence in the WPS.
Navy flag officer in command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta said the arrival of the future offshore patrol vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) and five other sister ships would enhance the Navy’s capability to protect the country’s maritime zones and Filipino fisherfolk.
“Our OPVs shall stand as a modern symbol of courage, as they will primarily contribute to safeguarding our maritime domain and patrolling the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Ezpeleta said during the ship’s arrival ceremony at Naval Operating Base–Subic in Zambales.
Speaking at the Chinese Embassy’s New Year Media Party, Quan said Beijing is open to constructive dialogue, including discussions on differences and disputes, but stressed that China would not stay silent in the face of public criticism.
“We welcome constructive dialogue and discussion, including on differences and disputes, but we oppose groundless attacks and smears. If fake news is spread, if China is defamed or if hatred is incited, we will not remain patient and silent. We will push back firmly without hesitation,” Quan said.
His remarks followed China’s filing of a diplomatic protest against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela over social media posts that Chinese officials said were “attacking and smearing” Chinese leaders.
Tarriela was pictured speaking in front of caricatures of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but maintained that his statements were factual and supported by video footage, photographs, official PCG reports, satellite imagery, and third-party observations, including statements from other countries.
The DFA response came after a warning from the Chinese Foreign Ministry directed at “certain uniformed service members” in the Philippines, urging them to stop spreading what it called misinformation about China.
“A word of advice to relevant individuals in the Philippines: immediately stop making provocations and stop confusing right and wrong, or they would pay the price for what they did,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
