The Philippines’ national security adviser on Friday called for Chinese diplomats to be expelled over the alleged leak of a phone conversation with a Philippine admiral, in a significant escalation of a bitter dispute over the South China Sea.
China’s embassy in Manila orchestrated “repeated acts of engagement and dissemination of disinformation” with the aim of sowing discord, division and disunity, Eduardo Ano said in a statement.
Such actions “should not be allowed without sanction and without serious penalties,” he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian called the comments provocative and said Chinese diplomats in the Philippines must be allowed to do their work.
“China solemnly requests the Philippine side to effectively protect the normal performance of Chinese diplomatic personnel’s duties, stop infringing and provoking, and refrain from denying the facts,” Lin said at a press conference in Beijing.
The office of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The two countries have engaged in a series of heated standoffs over the past year in disputed areas of the South China Sea as the Philippines, encouraged by support from the United States and other allies, steps up activities in waters occupied by the vast guard. coastal China.
China has accused the Philippines of invasion and treason, while Manila has rebuked Beijing for what it says is a policy of aggression and dangerous maneuvers within its exclusive economic zone.
The expulsion of the diplomats could intensify a dispute that, so far, has been marked by heated discussions, diplomatic protests and the firing of water cannons at Philippine ships on two disputed sandbars, the closest of which is more than 850 km away. away from mainland China.
Ano was referring to a report this week about an alleged leak of a call between a Chinese diplomat and a Philippine admiral discussing a dispute over the South China Sea, which contained a transcript showing the admiral agreeing to concessions to China.
According to the transcript published by the Manila Times, the admiral agreed to China’s proposal for a “new model” in which the Philippines would use fewer vessels on resupply trips for marines stationed on a warship stranded in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, and would notify Beijing of the missions in advance.
Reuters did not hear the reported telephone conversation and could not verify the contents of the published transcript. According to the report, the conversation took place in January and the transcript was provided by a “high-ranking Chinese official”, who was not named.
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Tags: Philippines calls expulsion Chinese diplomats South China Sea dispute
