Stronger PH action urged vs Chinese rhetoric, disinfo
The animosity seen in recent exchanges between Philippine officials and the Chinese Embassy in Manila has prompted the 1Sambayan political coalition, known for its strong opposition to China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, to call on the government to take a firmer stand to defend the national interest.
In a statement on Saturday, 1Sambayan urged the government, specifically the Department of Foreign Affairs, to respond more strongly to the forceful rhetoric from China’s embassy, including declaring certain embassy officers as persona non grata.
Recent statements from the embassy “appear calculated to pressure and embarrass the Philippines” as it further advances its narratives that “counter established facts and national interests.”
“Such conduct falls short of the standards expected in respectful state-to-state relations and undermines mutual trust,” 1Sambayan said in a statement.
“At a minimum, the government should consider declaring persona non grata any embassy spokespersons found to have engaged in inappropriate conduct,” it added.
The heated exchanges between several Philippine officials on one side, and the Chinese embassy on the other, have become a public diplomat spat.
1Sambayan issued its statement following a series of Facebook posts by the Chinese Embassy in Manila that targeted several Philippine government officials.
Since the beginning of 2026, the Chinese embassy has sniped at Hontiveros and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, as well as Represenatives Leila de Lima and Chel Diokno for allegedly misunderstanding international law and spreading misinformation about Beijing’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.
The embassy also filed a diplomatic protest against Philippine Coast spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela after he posted a photo of himself in front of a monitor displaying AI-generated images of Chinese President Xi Jinping scowling, flexing his muscles and playing with a toy ship with a Philippine flag.
Hontiveros called out the embassy over its social media posts, saying China was a “bad guest” of the country and calling on the DFA to immediately act on the embassy’s public attacks against government officials who were defending the Philippines’ position in the West Philippine Sea.
She also challenged the Chinese Embassy’s apparent sensitivity, reminding them that it is China that has persistently harassed Philippine security forces, drives Filipino fishermen traditional from their fishing grounds, and destroys the marine environment.
“China is already disrespecting our seas, and now it is also disrespecting our officials. We must not allow the Chinese Embassy—or any embassy, for that matter—to disrespect public servants who are simply defending what is rightfully ours. I expect the DFA to take this matter seriously,” Hontiveros said in a Jan. 9 letter to Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro.
Responding to Hontiveros, the embassy said in a Facebook post on Friday that it strongly opposed “groundless attacks and smears.”
“If fake news [is] spread, if China is defamed or if hatred is incited, we will not remain patient and silent. We will push back firmly without hesitation. This is our duty. We have every legitimate right to let the public be aware of the basic facts and China’s position,” it said.
The !sambayan coalition called on the government and the DFA to summon Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to account for such statements, clarify the embassy’s position and be “reminded of the obligation to refrain from interference in domestic affairs” in accordance to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
1Sambayan said the government should also to examine whether local media entities were being used as platforms for foreign propaganda and disinformation—calling for the review of the Foreign Agent Registration Act of 1979 and assess whether amendments should be made to address contemporary forms of influence operations.
It said that circulars from the Department of the Interior and Local Government governing sister city and sister school arrangements with China must be reviewed to ensure that it serves its intended purposes and are not being leveraged for “coordinated influence or ‘united front work’ activities that could compromise local governance.”
The government should also have a comprehensive approach in identifying and countering proxy actors employed for disinformation to sow social discord in the country, undermine Philippine institutions, malign public officials or even promote foreign political agendas and interests.
“The Chinese Communist Party has clearly treated the public opinion space as a strategic arena of competition,” 1Sambayan said.
“The Philippine government—and the Filipino people must be prepared to defend this space with vigilance, unity, and an unwavering commitment to sovereignty, truth, and democratic values,” it added.
