MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is taking note of calls by legislators to declare Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian as persona non grata after a series of harassment and dangerous maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea between China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels last weekend.
In a press briefing by the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTC-WPS) on Monday, DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza noted the calls of the legislators to declare China’s top diplomat to the country persona non grata, but clarifies that “it would be something that would be seriously considered” whether “it (West Philippine Sea incidents) merits to have an ambassador considered as such” and have him expelled.
Daza added that when considering declaring an ambassador persona non grata, that is at a certain level already and that there are both intended and unintended consequences.
“When an ambassador assumes, he is accepted by the accrediting host government. If you do something or say something that is unwelcomed then you can be subject to what we call persona non grata”, Daza said.
“But with this case, I think its something that will have to be seriously considered, whether the incidents or series of incidents merit having him declared as persona non grata”, Daza added.
She reiterated that “an ambassador is supposed to build bridges, is supposed to enhance relations and not strain relations.”
Daza reminded the Ambassador and assumes that he will try to do his best to “actually enhance the relations between the two countries, just as we expect our (Philippine) ambassador is supposed to do the same.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine government took three legal steps to call out the recent aggression and harassment of the CCG in the West Philippine Sea.
According to Daza, they used the “maritime communication mechanism” and filed a diplomatic protest with Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the ramming and use of water cannons by Chinese navy vessels against Philippine boats.
The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has also undertaken a de’marche to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official on Sunday concerning the incidents in Bajo de Masinloc and Ayungin Shoal.
Daza also confirms the summoning of the Chinese Ambassador to protest the incident.
