Lawmakers in both chambers pushed back against what they describe as increasingly aggressive and undiplomatic public statements by the Chinese Embassy, urging the government to respond more firmly through established diplomatic channels.

In the House of Representatives, minority lawmakers filed House Resolution 680 on Tuesday, calling on the Executive Branch, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to adopt stronger measures in response to embassy remarks directed at Philippine officials.

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These include the filing of formal diplomatic protests, summoning the Chinese ambassador, and, if warranted, declaring certain embassy officials persona non grata for conduct deemed improper and inconsistent with diplomatic norms.

“Wala silang karapatan na laitin, insultuhin at bastusin ang ating mga opisyal. Hindi naman pwedeng habang nagpapakalat sila ng kasinungalingan tungkol sa atin, ay mananahimik lang tayo (They have no right to belittle, insult and abuse our officials. We will not allow the fact that while they are spreading lies about us, we will remain silent),” said House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima.

De Lima of the Mamamayang Liberal party-list filed the resolution along with fellow her fellow Liberal Party (LP) lawmakers Reps. Edgar Erice (2nd District, Caloocan City), Adrian Michael Amatong (3rd District, Zamboanga del Norte), Arlene ‘Kaka’ Bag-ao (Lone District, Dinagat Islands), Jaime Fresnedi (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Cielo Krisel Lagman (1st District, Albay), and Alfonso Umali Jr. (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro), as well as Akbayan Reps. Jose Manuel ‘Chel’ Diokno, Percival Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula.

“Tulad ng pagtatanggol natin sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), dapat lang na pumalag tayo at ipagtanggol din ang ating mga opisyal na dinedepensahan lang kung ano ang totoo at ano ang nararapat sa dignidad ng ating bansa,” De Lima added.

(Just as we defend the West Philippine Sea (WPS), we must resist such acts and instead move to defend our officers who only standby what is true and what is worthy of the dignity of our country.)

The resolution cited a pattern of public statements and social media posts that lawmakers say employ disparaging and inflammatory language, go beyond legitimate expressions of a foreign state’s position, and undermine the principles of mutual respect and noninterference.

The House measure underscored the need to uphold Philippine sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, particularly amid ongoing disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

A similar stance emerged on Monday in the Senate, where 15 senators from across party lines filed a resolution condemning the Chinese Embassy’s recent criticism of Philippine officials and institutions.

Invoking the United Nations Charter and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the measure affirmed the Philippines’ right as a sovereign nation to assert and defend its positions under international law. 

The Senate resolution urged the DFA to take appropriate diplomatic action to protect the country’s dignity and formally register objections through proper international and bilateral mechanisms if necessary.

The signatories include Senators Francis Pangilinan, Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Erwin Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, and Lito Lapid.

They echoed earlier statements from defense authorities rejecting any attempts to intimidate or discredit Philippine institutions.

Tulfo, in his own privilege speech, strongly rebuked the Chinese Embassy over its comments on freedom of expression and its warning that Philippine officials would face consequences for statements related to the West Philippine Sea.

He said foreign representatives have no authority to dictate the limits of speech in the Philippines and maintained that Filipino officials were exercising their mandate in speaking out on issues of sovereignty.

“If they do not like how democracy works in our country, the answer is clear: leave. This is our house. They are not our bosses, and we are not their servants,” Tulfo asserted. 

The neophyte senator also criticized China’s human rights record, alleging suppression of dissent and restrictions on press freedom, and insisted that Filipinos would not temper their speech to appease any foreign power.

“We do not take lessons on democracy from a government that jails critics. We do not take lectures on free speech from a system that suppresses it,” Tulfo said. 

Meanwhile, Pangilinan pointed out that China is angering Filipinos as an attempt to distort reality and portray themselves as anything but the aggressor.

De Lima acknowledged that the DFA already responded and are taking actions to address these concerns, “but we believe that the government’s response should be stronger and bolder.”

While critical of the tone and substance of the embassy’s remarks, the lawmakers stressed that their actions are grounded in respect for international law and diplomatic processes, emphasizing that transparency and the defense of sovereignty should not be treated as provocation.

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