Philippines calls for expulsion of Chinese diplomats amid intensifying sea dispute
The dispute over the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing is intensifying. The Philippine National Security Adviser has called for the expulsion of Chinese diplomats following the leak of an alleged telephone conversation with a Filipino military official. "Such actions should not go without sanctions or serious penalty," the official stated.
Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano called on Friday for the expulsion of Chinese diplomats from the country reports Malay Mail. The reason is said to be the dissemination of misinformation and violation of Philippine law. "The repeated acts of the Chinese embassy engaging in and spreading misinformation, now publishing fake transcripts or recordings of supposed conversations between officials of the host country, should not go unpunished or without serious penalty," the official said.
"The staff of the Chinese embassy responsible for violating Philippine law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as well as those responsible for these malicious influence operations and interference, must be immediately removed from the country," Ano added in a statement quoted by Manila Bulletin.
The defense minister called for action
The leak of the alleged telephone conversation occurred at the beginning of the week. During the conversation, a Chinese diplomat and a Filipino admiral discussed the South China Sea dispute. The Filipino official allegedly agreed to the Chinese side's terms.
Earlier, Philippine Defense Minister Gilbert Teodoro called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate actions against Chinese diplomats who claim to have recorded the alleged telephone conversation. According to information provided by Manila Bulletin, Eduardo Ano supported Teodoro's statement, saying that if such a conversation took place, recording it constitutes a severe violation of diplomatic protocols and the mentioned convention.
China responded. "It's a provocation"
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the statements from Philippine politicians are a provocation. At the same time, he called for the Chinese diplomats to be ensured they can perform their duties, reports Reuters Agency. - China officially requests the Philippine side to effectively secure the typical performance of duties by Chinese diplomatic personnel, stop violating and provoking, and refrain from denying facts - Lin said.
