The discipline of diplomacy

The recent exchange between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials over caricatures of President Xi Jinping has exposed more than a clash of tempers. It has laid bare a deeper tension between democratic norms and authoritarian sensitivities, between free expression and diplomatic restraint, and between symbolic politics and the hard discipline required in foreign policy.

At the center of the controversy is the concept of persona non grata (PNG), a term often invoked dramatically but rarely understood in full. Under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations — binding on both the Philippines and China — a host state may at any time declare a foreign diplomat unacceptable, without the obligation to provide justification.

Once declared persona non grata, the sending state must recall the official or terminate their functions. It is a lawful act, but also one of the strongest non-military signals available in diplomacy.

A PNG is imposed sparingly. It is traditionally reserved for serious breaches of diplomatic conduct: interference in domestic affairs, hostile public statements incompatible with diplomatic status, or actions that undermine sovereignty. Its consequences are real — forced departure, reciprocal retaliation, and a cooling of bilateral relations. For this reason, it is a tool of last resort, not a reflexive response to rhetorical offenses.

The caricature incident that triggered the exchange illustrates a fundamental values mismatch. From the Philippine perspective, the use of caricature — even when sharp or irreverent — falls squarely within the constitutional protection of free speech. Political satire is embedded in democratic discourse, and criticism of foreign conduct, including assertive behavior in the West Philippine Sea, is considered a legitimate expression rather than an assault on national dignity.

China, however, operates under a different normative framework. Public ridicule of the head of state is perceived not as an expression but as an insult — personal, national and civilizational. Chinese diplomatic reactions, often sharp and public, reflect a political culture that prioritizes authority, respect, and centralized narrative control. The embassy’s scathing response was therefore predictable, even if jarring to democratic sensibilities.

What elevated the incident to a diplomatic flashpoint was the intervention of the Philippine Senate. By framing the issue as democracy versus coercive diplomacy, the senators transformed a rhetorical dispute into a sovereignty issue. Proposals to declare a Chinese spokesperson persona non grata — and calls for diplomats to leave if they could not accept democratic norms — were powerful political statements, but also high-risk ones.

The embassy’s response — that a PNG declaration would result in the departure of its diplomatic team — was not a retreat. It was a reminder of the cost of escalation. That, after all, is precisely what a PNG entails. In diplomacy, such exchanges are less about who is right than about who maintains strategic composure.

In practice, such standoffs rarely end with formal expulsions. Threats are aired publicly, but resolutions are reached quietly. The rhetoric cools, backchannels activate, and both sides preserve face. Everyone blinks — without admitting it.

This episode underscores an urgent need for clearer diplomatic discipline moving forward. The Philippines already faces an unresolved and sensitive conflict in the West Philippine Sea. At the same time, Philippine-China relations extend far beyond maritime disputes — people-to-people ties, trade and investments, cultural exchanges, and geographic proximity as neighbors. These overlapping realities require coherence, not cacophony.

As a matter of policy, statements on Philippine–China relations should be channeled through the Department of Foreign Affairs or a duly designated spokesperson authorized by the President, the country’s chief architect of foreign policy. This is not a limitation on free speech, nor a rebuke of democratic debate. It is an acknowledgment that diplomacy is a specialized craft — one that the DFA has managed, often under extraordinary pressure, for many years.

Allowing multiple political actors to conduct parallel diplomacy through public statements risks undermining institutional credibility, confusing signals, and weakening negotiating positions. The more fragmented the message, the easier it becomes for external actors to exploit inconsistencies.

The Philippines need not retreat from its democratic values to engage with authoritarian states. But neither should those values be wielded impulsively in ways that erode diplomatic coherence. Free speech is a strength — but so is restraint. In foreign policy, the most effective assertion of sovereignty is not always the loudest one, but the one delivered with clarity, unity and purpose.

The President has taken a calibrated step to de-escalate the tensions between China and the Philippines by declining the calls to declare Chinese diplomats persona non grata. This restraint has helped preserve diplomatic space at a critical moment. In parallel, the Senate chair on Foreign Relations has urged a ceasefire in rhetoric, reinforcing the need for stability and dialogue over escalation.

Now pending before the Senate is a proposed resolution responding to recent statements by Chinese diplomats. Its adoption would carry significance beyond symbolism. Carefully crafted language will be essential to ensure that the resolution complements — rather than constrains — the ongoing efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs to manage bilateral tensions, protect the national interest, and keep communication channels open between the two neighbors.

It is prudent to remember that power is not measured by who speaks most forcefully — but by who diplomatically speaks with authority, consistency, and strategic intent.