MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday emphasized the use of diplomatic channels after a back-and-forth between Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela and the Chinese Embassy in Manila over the West Philippine Sea.
It nevertheless affirmed support for government officials and agencies in the face of criticism from China’s foreign ministry, which said this week it had lodged a protest over Tarriela’s social media posts.
“The DFA reiterates that differences between States are best addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than public exchanges,” it also said.
The department also said it supports officials and agencies “performing their legal duties in defense of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.”
The DFA added it will continue to “articulate the Philippines’ positions” on the West Philippine Sea, which it said is based on international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 arbitral award invalidating Beijing’s nine-dash-line claim over a large part of the South China Sea.
HONTIVEROS: CHINA EMBASSY ACTING LIKE A BAD GUEST
Earlier Wednesday, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros said the Chinese Embassy was being a bad guest by quarelling with Philippine officials and agencies.
“Dapat mas magpakita sila ng respeto sa kanilang host country, sa atin (They should show more respect to their host country, to us),” she said, specifically mentioning the embassy’s “actuations” against Tarriela and other officials reiterating the Philippine position and pointing out China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.
Hontiveros said she had already written the DFA to urge it to take action on the embassy’s statements, which she said violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“Masyado namang pa-victim ang pag-uugali ng Chinese Embassy dito sa Manila. After all, sila po yung umaatake ng lasers at kung ano-ano pa sa ating uniformed services. Sila ang nagtataboy sa ating mga mangisda sa fishing grounds ng Pilipinas. Sila ang sumisira ng ating likas-yaman sa dagat,” she said as she described embassy officials as onion-skinned.
(The Chinese Embassy is playing the victim too much. After all, it is China who use lasers and other things on our unifomed personnel. They are the ones who drive our fisherfolk away and destroy our marine resources)
‘WE CANNOT STAY QUIET’
She added she and Tarriela, as well as Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima “and many others” will not stay silent about the situation in the West Philippine Sea.
“Di kami pwedeng tumigil at hindi kami titigil dahil baka ma-hurt yung feelings ng Chinese Embassy,” she said.
(We cannot stop and we will not stop just because the Chinese Embassy’s feeligns might get hurt)
“Bakit kami matatakot magsalita? Tungkulin namin magsalita kapag kailangang itaguyod ang interes ng Pilipinas at ating mga Pilipino at lalo na kapag nilalabag ang karapatang ito.”
(Why should we be afraid to speak up? It is our duty to speak up for our interests, especially if our rights are beign violated)
Hontiveros left it to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to issue his own statement, but said doing so would be consistent with the country’s foreign policy track of seeking a broad alliance with like-minded nations.
“So hindi lang bumabalik sa traditional alliance sa Washington pero nag-re-reach out at tumatanggap ng suporta sa mas maraming mga bansa na naniniwala sa rule of law at sea, naniniwala sa mapayapang conflict resolution at conflict prevention,” she said.
(So, we are not just going back to the traditional alliance with Washington but we are also reaching out to and accepting the support of more countries that believe in the rule of law at sea, peaceful conflict resolution and conflict prevention)
