Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan criticized China’s recent military drills around Taiwan, saying the exercises heightened regional tensions and affected Filipinos living and working on the island, drawing a rebuke from the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

Pangilinan said China’s two-day military exercises encircling Taiwan undermined peace and security in East and Southeast Asia.

“It is the season of goodwill, but China’s two-day military drills encircling Taiwan have brought ill will all around—to the Taiwan people, to Filipinos working, living, and spending the holidays there, and to peoples across East and Southeast Asia,” he stressed.

He added that peace could not be built on threats of invasion or war games and called instead for respect for people’s right to self-determination.

“Peace on earth cannot be built on threats of invasion, expanding foreign basing, or war games. Peace on earth can only be built on our individual and collective right to self-determination, free from bullying or annexation by any power—whether Chinese or American,” Pangilinan said.

He added that global cooperation should focus on social justice, climate action, and democratic rights, rather than relying on military force or shifting alliances.

Responding to the remarks, the Chinese Embassy rejected what it described as “external interference” in the Taiwan issue, reiterating Beijing’s position that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”

In a statement on Friday, the embassy emphasized that "the Taiwan question is an internal affair" and stressed that the fundamental status quo in the Taiwan Strait is that both sides belong to “one and the same China.”

It added that the main threat to peace and stability in the area comes from what it called “Taiwan independence” forces and external support for them.

The embassy also cited the one-China principle as a prevailing international norm and noted that the Philippines committed to the policy when it established diplomatic relations with China.

“The one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus and basic norm in international relations. It is also the political foundation for China’s relations with all 183 countries having diplomatic ties with China. The Philippines made a clear commitment to one-China when establishing diplomatic ties with China,” it said.

The Chinese Embassy called on Philippine figures to abide by that commitment and refrain from interfering in China’s internal affairs.

“China firmly rejects the wrongful statement and calls on relevant Philippine figures to abide by the commitment of their government, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and stop aiding and abetting separatism for ‘Taiwan independence’,” it said.