DFA to officials: Align remarks with Marcos’ foreign policy
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reminded officials, particularly members of the defense and security sector, to align their statements and actions with President Marcos’ foreign policy direction, particularly with regard to China—even amid a “transparency” campaign against China’s incursions in Philippine waters.
It warned that public disagreements could weaken Manila’s diplomatic position, particularly in its dealings with Beijing, especially ahead of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit when the decadeslong negotiations on the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea are supposed to be concluded.
In a statement on Sunday, the DFA stressed that the President, as the country’s chief architect of foreign policy under the Constitution, has the authority to determine the direction of the Philippines’ international relations, and that individual officials and government agencies cannot independently pursue their preferred approaches toward foreign partners.
“Whatever personal convictions public officials may hold, their public platforms carry institutional responsibilities. They may not pursue preferred approaches toward China, or any other international partner, without regard for the consequences on the government’s overall policy,” the DFA said.
“Personal advocacies must never serve interests other than the national interest,” it added in its “statement on statecraft, transparency and the national interest.”
The DFA statement did not mention any official, but Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela have been waging a word war with the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
Beijing had also sanctioned Teodoro, barring him and his family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao for unspecified, allegedly “irresponsible” remarks made by the defense chief—an unprecedented move against a Cabinet member since bilateral ties were established 51 years ago.
Last week, Teodoro rejected suggestions that Philippine officials should temper their statements about China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea, saying Manila had taken a responsible stance in dealing with Beijing.
His remarks followed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s call for Manila to rein in politicians whom Beijing accused of repeatedly attacking China and crossing its “red lines.”
Tarriela said Beijing wanted Manila to stop publicizing Chinese actions at sea to weaken international support for the Philippines.
He argued that the government’s “transparency” campaign in the West Philippine Sea, launched in 2023, had made it harder for Beijing to dispute accounts of confrontations at sea through photographs, videos and other evidence. It also helped sustain international condemnation of Chinese actions and supported maritime security cooperation with the Philippines.
Tarriela warned that if the Philippines abandoned the campaign, “the world goes quiet with us.”
But the DFA noted that while the national security establishment and uniformed services play an important role in assessing developments on the ground, “civilian authority directs the country’s international relations.”
The department also cautioned against treating transparency as a substitute for diplomacy in addressing China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.
“Transparency is a tool, not a strategy in itself,” it said, noting that documenting and publicizing incidents in the disputed waters had helped establish facts, counter disinformation and build international awareness.
“Transparency must support diplomacy rather than displace, constrain or collide with it,” the DFA said. —WITH A REPORT FROM SHERI DELFINO
