Fifteen senators from across party lines have signed a Senate resolution condemning recent public statements by the Chinese Embassy that criticized Philippine officials and institutions defending national sovereignty and maritime rights.
The resolution, led by Senator Francis Pangilinan and co-authored by 14 other senators, affirms that Philippine officials have the sovereign right and duty to speak on national interest matters in the performance of their official functions.
It said the language used by a Chinese Embassy official against members of Congress lacked diplomatic restraint and violated principles of mutual respect and non-interference.
The measure cited earlier statements by the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines rejecting attempts to intimidate or malign Philippine defense institutions.
Invoking the UN Charter and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the resolution stressed that the peaceful assertion of sovereign rights is neither aggression nor provocation, and urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate diplomatic action, including elevating the issue to international fora if necessary.IMT
