The Liberal Party of the Philippines on Wednesday condemned the Chinese Embassy’s remarks criticizing the Philippine Senate and public officials who have spoken out in defense of the country’s sovereign rights.

In a statement, the party said, “The Embassy dismisses the Senate Resolution as a ‘political stunt.’ The Filipino people deserve honesty: the Senate acted because a line had been crossed. A foreign mission chose to publicly scold, pressure, and belittle Philippine institutions for asserting Philippine interests. That is precisely the kind of interference that democracies are duty-bound to confront.”

The Chinese Embassy earlier accused Filipino legislators of twisting facts and misleading the public.

But the LP countered: “The facts require no embellishment. They are written in repeated intrusions, maritime harassments, and aggressive assertions in the West Philippine Sea—actions that have been documented, protested, and challenged under international law, including the 2016 Arbitral Award.”

The party also took issue with the Embassy’s position that it seeks improved relations while branding criticism as “noise” and framing accountability as “hatred and confrontation.”

According to the LP, relations between states must be anchored on mutual respect and restraint.

“Healthy relations between states are built on respect and restraint, are strengthened by transparency, lawful conduct, and good faith; never by intimidation, ridicule, or warnings that ordinary people will ‘pay the price’ for speaking up,” the party said.

The LP described as alarming the Embassy’s declaration that it would “fight to the very end” against Philippine officials defending national interests.

It said such language “reveals a mindset that treats diplomacy as domination and disagreement as hostility.”

The party called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to respond firmly, stressing the need to protect the integrity of Philippine institutions and uphold the right of officials to speak on matters of sovereignty and national security.

“Let this be understood, plainly and finally: the Philippines is a Republic, not a province of China. Our officials answer to the Filipino people—not to Beijing. Our nation will never seek permission to defend its own waters, its own rights, and its own dignity. This is our message, and this is our posture: Hindi pasisiil.”