Palace calls for healthy PH-China dialogue amid word war

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday urged concerned officials of the Philippines and the Chinese Embassy in Manila to tone down their word war over issues about the West Philippine Sea.

“The [de-escalation] of tension between China and the Philippines should not come from just one country,” Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing on Monday.

“Consideration for friendly discussions and healthy dialogue should come from both nations—not just from the Philippines, not just from China. Both countries must work together to establish mutual respect for one another,” she added.

The Palace issued the statement after the Chinese Embassy warned that the escalating political rhetoric against Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan and calls for his replacement could jeopardize millions of Filipino jobs.

Castro reiterated President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s rejection of the calls to declare Jing persona non grata, while maintaining his firm stance on the country’s position over its rights and interests over the Philippines’ territory and the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Marcos against calling China  envoy ‘persona  non grata’–spox

On Sunday, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said Beijing would “not yet” impose sanctions on some Filipino legislators engaging with the debate on the Philippines’ assertion over the West Philippine Sea, including prohibiting them and their family members from entering mainland China, as well as Hong Kong and Macao.

He also did not back calls for China to freeze these Philippine officials’ property in China and bar Chinese citizens and institutions from doing business with them.

“lt’s not our option. At least not now. This is a debate,” Ji said in a post on the Chinese Embassy’s Facebook page.

“They have the freedom to express their views, and we have the freedom to respond. No one should be silenced. Diplomacy is based on reciprocity. Words for words, actions for actions,” he added.

READ: China warning: Row puts millions of PH jobs at risk

Ji’s statement reciprocated Malacañang’s messaging of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respecting the freedom of expression of Chinese Embassy officials, saying “the Chinese Embassy has the right to express what they feel and their sentiments, just as the Senate does.”

In the past weeks, the Chinese Embassy has been verbally aggressive with its statements, directly attacking Philippine officials who criticize Beijing for undermining the Philippines’ rights and sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.

Among them were Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, as well as Senators Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima. /gsg