DND, AFP lash back at Chinese spox over WPS

The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) strongly condemned recent remarks attributed to a spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling them an affront to Philippine uniformed personnel and a continuation of what Manila described as Beijing’s campaign of intimidation and disinformation.

In a statement on Saturday, the DND reacted to comments made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Wei, who accused certain Philippine uniformed service members of being “driven by personal political motives” and of “habitually inciting confrontation.”

The Chinese official further warned unnamed individuals in the Philippines to “immediately stop making provocations and stop confusing right and wrong,” adding that “they will pay the price for what they did.”

The DND said it “strongly condemns such an affront to any of its members” and stressed that it would not be intimidated by officials of the People’s Republic of China (PROC), whether acting from abroad or while present in the Philippines.

It further reiterated that “it shall not be cowed by any official of the PROC, whether in their homeland or as guests here, and we shall continue to speak against their lies and malign actions when such are committed.”

According to the DND, the Chinese spokesperson’s remarks exemplify what it described as an “unflinching and twisted attempt” by the PROC to spread distorted narratives and pursue an “ineffective and distasteful campaign to bully smaller countries.”

The department also reiterated the Philippines’ long-standing position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), asserting that neither the area nor any of its features has ever been part of China’s territory.

It emphasized that Philippine defense and security forces will continue to carry out their mandate to counter what it called China’s “malign influence and illegal activities” within areas under Philippine jurisdiction.

The exchange comes amid persistent diplomatic and security friction between Manila and Beijing over competing claims and activities in the WPS.