Senate, Chinese Embassy trade fresh barbs

Filipino senators and the Chinese Embassy remained locked in a verbal spat on Thursday after Beijing’s envoy issued a sharp rebuke in response to Senate President Tito Sotto’s statements accusing China of attempting to “silence” the upper chamber.

“Mr. Senate President, you say we are rude, but take a look at the track record. Some senator[s] even said to the Chinese diplomats in the Senate plenary session ‘Get the f*ck out!’ Please tell me who is rude,” Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said.

“You also say we are disrespectful. Yet some senators labeled China a bully, called the Chinese Embassy a ‘bad guest’ or a ‘troll farm.’ Is that what you call respect?” he added.

Sotto said he would not engage Ji further, regardless of any provocation.

“When someone triggers you to react, and you do not, it’s annoying! I prefer to be annoying!” the Senate leader said in a Viber message to reporters.

Tensions escalated after the Senate adopted on Monday a resolution condemning China for what it described as inflammatory remarks made against Philippine officials defending Manila’s maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea.

The embassy criticized the move, calling it “anti-China” and a “political stunt” aimed at “stirring up hatred and confrontation” and undermining efforts to improve longstanding diplomatic relations.

Ji described senators who supported the resolution as “hypocrites” and “ignorant” of diplomacy.

Sotto responded by accusing Ji of trying to “silence” the Senate and demanding respect while allegedly disrespecting its members.

Ji denied the accusation, saying certain senators had repeatedly threatened foreign diplomats, including with proposals to declare Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian persona non grata, a move earlier floated by Sotto.

“The reality is that certain senators have been repeatedly threatening and intimidating foreign embassy officials, even proposing to declare Chinese diplomats persona non grata. So who is trying to silence the other side?” Ji said.

He added that China would not be pressured by “statements, resolutions, or endless complaints.”

Ji said the embassy remained open to dialogue but would firmly reject “baseless attacks and smears.”