DFA to Chinese envoy: Respect PH laws

This video frame grab from footage taken and released on October 22, 2023 by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) through the Chinese embassy in Manila shows a collision between a Chinese Coast Guard ship (R) and a Philippine resupply boat (L) during a resupply mission in Second Thomas Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea. Beijing and Manila traded blame on October 22, for two collisions between Chinese vessels and Philippine boats on a resupply mission to Filipino troops on a remote outpost in the disputed South China Sea. Handout / Chinese Coast Guard / AFP

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said diplomats should respect the laws and not interfere in the internal affairs of their host country amid the reported wiretapping of the conversation between a Chinese diplomat and a ranking Filipino military officer.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila released a transcript of the supposed telephone conversation between an unnamed Chinese diplomat and Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos who agreed to a “new model” in managing the dispute over Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

In a statement on Thursday, the DFA cautioned the public “against falling for false narratives.”

The DFA said diplomats should “strictly adhere” to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations particularly Article 41 which states that “it is the duty of all persons to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday slammed the Chinese Embassy for violating the Anti-Wiretapping Law.

“Resorting to tactics such as releasing unverifiable recordings of supposed conversations with Philippine officials could demonstrate efforts to sow discord and confusion among Philippine agencies and the Filipino public,” the DFA said.

Li Jian, China Foreign Ministry spokesman, said the Philippines “hurts its own credibility and puts peace and stability in the South China Sea in jeopardy” when it denied the phone conversation between the Chinese diplomat in Manila and Carlos.

“The facts are clear and backed by hard evidence that cannot be denied. The Philippines has insisted on denying these objective facts and seeks to mislead the international community,” Li said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

The Chinese embassy in Manila shared the transcript of Li’s press conference.

“China urged the Philippines to honor its commitment, stop maritime infringement and provocation at once, and return to the right track of properly handling disputes with China through dialogue and consultation,” Li said.