Lawmakers led by House Deputy Minority Leader and Makabayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima have filed a resolution urging the government to take tougher measures against repeated attacks from the Chinese Embassy targeting Philippine officials.
In filing House Resolution No. 680, the group called on the Executive Branch — especially the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) — to adopt a bolder diplomatic stance.
They proposed measures such as filing formal diplomatic protests, summoning the Chinese Ambassador, and even declaring persona non grata any embassy spokesperson or foreign diplomat engaged in improper conduct. The goal, they said, is to uphold diplomatic norms, the principle of non-interference, and Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity.
De Lima said the embassy has no right to insult or demean Philippine officials.
“It is not right that while they are peddling lies, we just stay silent. Just as we defend the West Philippine Sea, we must also stand up for our officials who are defending what is true and protecting the dignity of our country,” she said.
While the DFA has already issued statements, De Lima emphasized that a stronger government response is needed.
Aside from De Lima, the signatories of HR 680 include fellow Liberal Party lawmakers Reps. Edgar Erice (Caloocan City), Adrian Michael Amatong (Zamboanga del Norte), Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands), Jaime Fresnedi (Muntinlupa City), Cielo Krisel Lagman (Albay), and Alfonso Umali Jr. (Oriental Mindoro), as well as Akbayan Reps. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Percival Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula.
Since December 2025, the Chinese Embassy, through deputy spokesperson Guo Wei, has issued statements and social media posts disputing Philippine positions on navigation rights, archipelagic sea lanes, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) entitlements, and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
In January 2026, the Embassy also directed public statements at lawmakers speaking on maritime and regional security, including De Lima, Diokno, and Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Erwin Tulfo.
