MANILA – The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the Philippines of “acting in bad faith” on the issue of reported illegal and unlawful activities by its diplomatic officials, saying the Philippines’ persistent denial and breach of commitment brings “no good but only harm to regional countries.”
In its regular press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated its position regarding comments of Philippine senior officials on Chinese diplomats in the Philippines, particularly a recorded audio containing a conversation between an unnamed Chinese diplomat and an official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (AFP-WESCOM), about the so-called “new model” on how to manage the situation in the South China Sea.
According to Wang, the information released by the Chinese Embassy is “entirely factual.”
“Whether it’s the “gentlemen’s agreement”, or the internal understandings, or the “new model” on properly managing the situation in the South China Sea, they all have clear timelines and are supported by solid evidence,” Wang said.
“No one can deny their existence. The Philippines’ persistent denial and breach of commitment—and blaming it all on China—shows exactly who is acting in bad faith, infringing the other side’s sovereignty and making provocations on Ren’ai Jiao,” he added.
Wang mentioned that China and ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, have maintained close communication and cooperation over the years and signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), been committed to advancing the consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and kept the South China Sea generally stable.
“But in recent years, the Philippines has breached agreements and understandings with China, acted against the spirit of the DOC, and frequently encroached on China’s rights with provocative behaviour that creates new tension,” Wang stated.
Wang continues to accuse the Philippines, saying it has escalated tensions in the South China Sea by involving non-regional actors in trying to create trouble.
“What the Philippines has done undermines solidarity and mutual trust among regional countries and peace and stability in the South China Sea. These actions bring no good but only harm to regional countries,” Wang claims.
China then urges the Philippines to “face the facts, honour its word, stop infringement and provocations at once and return to the right track of properly settling maritime differences through negotiation and consultation.”
Wang added a warning, saying that “If the Philippines does not change course, China will take necessary measures to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests.”
Earlier, the Philippines’ National Security Advisor Eduardo Ano called for Chinese diplomats to be expelled from the country due to an alleged leak of a phone conversation with a Filipino admiral concerning rising tensions in the South China, saying the Chinese embassy “orchestrated repeated acts of engaging and dissemination of disinformation, misinformation and malinformation.”
According to Ano, such actions “"should not be allowed to pass unsanctioned without serious penalty.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also released a statement on Monday, confirming that it will look into any reports of illegal and unlawful activities by diplomatic officials, and will undertake necessary action in line with existing laws and regulations.
In a statement released on Monday, the DFA reiterated its call for adherence to international law, including the United Nations Charter, the Vienna Conventions governing inter-state relations, and in the maritime domain the 1982 UNCLOS.
The DFA said that “such conversations were recorded and later released with transcripts of the audio recording by the Chinese Embassy, with the purpose to “antagonize and disrupt various government agencies and confuse the public.”
The DFA added that the foreign diplomats accredited to the Philippines are accorded the necessary liberties to conduct their diplomatic duties, with the expectation they, in turn, will conduct their diplomatic activities with the “highest standards of integrity and professionalism”, in pursuit of common interests and mutually beneficial outcomes.
The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to focus its efforts on advancing cooperation with all countries, the statement read.
