Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has expressed concern and taken strong exception to a recent statement by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines that linked job losses among Filipinos to strained bilateral relations. In a statement Monday night, the DFA said it values cooperation with all states across economic, cultural, and other domains, noting that such engagements deliver clear benefits to the Philippines and its people.
According to Philippines News Agency, the department took exception to the tone of the embassy's remarks, which, it said, appeared to suggest that cooperation could be withheld as leverage or retaliation. "In the current atmosphere, this framing risks being perceived as coercive and undermines constructive bilateral dialogue," the statement said. "The DFA once again urges the Chinese Embassy to adopt a responsible and measured tone in public exchanges," it added.
Moreover, the department reiterated its commitment to diplomacy to stabilize and advance the bilateral relationship, despite profound differences. This came after the Chinese Embassy in Manila warned that moves by some Philippine lawmakers targeting Chinese diplomats could jeopardize economic ties and 'cost millions of jobs' for Filipinos if diplomatic relations were seriously damaged.
Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said any downgrade of bilateral ties could have economic repercussions, urging caution in actions related to diplomatic matters and framing the concerns in terms of potential impact on Filipino workers. Some lawmakers criticized the embassy's remarks as a veiled economic threat against Filipinos, especially amid ongoing tensions over maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Tensions between the two countries have persisted in recent years over developments in the WPS, particularly incidents involving Philippine resupply missions and the presence of Chinese vessels in areas within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The Philippines has consistently cited its sovereign rights under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. China has rejected the ruling.
Despite maritime tensions, both countries have maintained economic and people-to-people exchanges, including trade, tourism, and investment engagements. The DFA said it remains committed to diplomatic mechanisms to manage disputes and pursue mutually beneficial cooperation, underscoring that responsible dialogue should take precedence in public discourse.
