31/01/2026
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KIKO LEADS CROSS-PARTY SENATE MOVE VS. CHINESE EMBASSY CRITICISM
Fifteen senators from across party lines have filed a resolution condemning recent public statements by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China that criticized Philippine officials and institutions for defending the country's sovereignty and maritime rights.
The measure was introduced by Senators Kiko Pangilinan, Tito Sotto, Ping Lacson, Migz Zubiri, Erwin Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, Raffy Tulfo, Win Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, and Lito Lapid.
The resolution affirms that Philippine officials have the sovereign right and duty to speak on matters of national interest in the performance of their official functions, stressing that such actions fall well within international norms and democratic practice.
It also faults the language used by a Chinese Embassy official against incumbent members of Congress, saying it departs from the โrestraint, courtesy, and responsibility expected of diplomatic communicationsโ and violates the principles of mutual respect and non-interference among states.
The measure recalls earlier statements by the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines rejecting attempts by Chinese officials to intimidate or malign Philippine defense institutions and personnel, emphasizing that these agencies would not be silenced by such actions.
Citing the United Nations Charter and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the resolution underscores that the Philippines, as a sovereign state, has the right to assert and defend its positions in accordance with international law. It adds that the peaceful assertion of sovereign rights does not amount to aggression or provocation.
The resolution calls on the Department of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate diplomatic steps to uphold the dignity of the Republic of the Philippines, ensure that state-to-state relations adhere to international law, and, if necessary, formally place the country's objections on record and elevate the issue to relevant international fora.
Pangilinan said China's actionsโnot Philippine statementsโare the source of tensions in the West Philippine Sea, pointing to water cannon incidents, collisions involving Filipino vessels, and damage to marine resources within the country's maritime jurisdiction.
He stressed that defending the country's rights, both in words and deeds, is not provocation, adding that the Senate stands firmly behind the enforcement of the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China's "nine-dash line" claim, nearly a decade after the ruling was handed down.