On Friday, Philippines’ National Security Adviser accused a Chinese diplomat of maliciously spreading false information about a conversation with a Philippine naval commander, calling for the diplomat’s expulsion. The conflict between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea has escalated further.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano stated that the Chinese Embassy in Manila has been carefully planning and participating in multiple acts of “manufacturing and spreading false, misleading, and malicious information” with the aim of sowing discord, creating division, and undermining unity. He emphasized that these actions should be sanctioned and severely punished.
In response, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that Chinese diplomats stationed in the Philippines should be allowed to carry out their work.
Over the past year, tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have continued to escalate. Both sides have engaged in intense conflicts on two disputed shoals, with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs repeatedly protesting incidents such as Chinese coast guard vessels ramming Philippine ships and imposing maritime restrictions. The two shoals are located over 850 kilometers away from mainland China.
Ano’s accusation involves the malicious dissemination by a Chinese diplomat of fabricated phone call records discussing the South China Sea dispute with a Philippine naval commander.
According to the alleged recording, the naval commander agreed to a new proposal from China regarding the dispute, which involves the Philippines reducing the number of supply ships sent to the Marines aboard the grounded warship at Second Thomas Shoal and notifying Chinese authorities before undertaking missions.
The contents of this call have not been independently verified by any third party.
Ano voiced support for the Defense Secretary’s call for the Foreign Ministry to take appropriate action against Chinese embassy officials. He stated that these officials have violated Philippine laws, including anti-eavesdropping laws, and have seriously breached diplomatic protocol.
He insisted that “these individuals from the Chinese embassy… and those responsible for these malicious influence and interference operations must be immediately expelled.”
China has long been troubled by the small Philippine military presence at the Second Thomas Shoal (also known as Ayungin Shoal) on the “Sierra Madre” ship. China has repeatedly claimed that the Philippines agreed to remove the ship during former President Duterte’s administration, a claim denied by the Philippine government.
Philippine political analyst Julio Amador suggested that expelling diplomats should be one of the Philippines’ diplomatic options. The incident highlights that Chinese embassy officials do not value working relationships with Philippine officials.
“Diplomacy is built on trust, yet China attempts to make all interactions between its diplomats and Philippine government representatives look like binding negotiations,” Amador said. “China has no right to dictate how the Philippines manages its sovereign territories.”
(Adapted from a report by Reuters)