Senator Hontiveros urges DFA to respond to Chinese Embassy's statements vs. government officials

Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to act on the Chinese Embassy’s public statements against Philippine government officials defending the country’s position on the West Philippine Sea issue.

In a letter to DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Hontiveros sought clarification on how the agency can ensure that foreign diplomatic missions in the Philippines respect the limits of diplomatic conduct and refrain from targeting Filipino officials.

“We must not allow the Chinese Embassy — or any embassy, for that matter — to disrespect public servants who are simply defending what is rightfully ours. I expect the DFA to take this matter seriously,” Hontiveros said.

In the letter, the senator further said that the Philippine foreign service has consistently upheld the principle that disputes between states should be addressed through established diplomatic channels, not through public pressure campaigns directed at individual officials.

Hontiveros added that allowing such actions to pass without response risks normalizing foreign interference and undermining the dignity of Philippine institutions, as well as the safety of those tasked with defending the country’s national interests.

“We, Filipino public servants, will continue to speak the truth — and if that hurts their fragile egos, so be it,” Hontiveros concluded.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun issued a statement condemning Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard, for his "smears and attacks against Chinese Leader."

Guo said "a 'spokesperson' of the Philippine Coast Guard has maliciously spread disinformation on China and wantonly smeared China’s image."

"China strongly condemns this and has lodged strong protests with the Philippine side. Certain Philippine uniformed service members, driven by personal political motives, have repeatedly made outrageous and absurd statements, in a habit of inciting confrontation," Guo said.

"Such behavior is despicable. 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," Guo threatened.

Earlier, in a post on X, Tarriela said, "The Chinese Embassy's statement demanding clarification from the Philippine government on whether my statements represent official policy—and why I have not been "held accountable"—is not only a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations but also an attempt to deflect from the core issue: China's repeated aggressive and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea."

-Paraluman News