Philippines calls for expulsion of Chinese diplomats amid sea dispute
On Friday, Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano advocated for the expulsion of Chinese diplomats from the Philippines, as reported by Malay Mail. This drastic step is in response to their alleged dissemination of disinformation and violation of Philippine law. "The repeated acts of the Chinese embassy, engaging in and spreading disinformation, now publishing fake transcripts or recordings of supposed conversations between officials of the host country, should not go unpunished or without serious penalty," he stated.
The defense minister calls for action
Philippine Defense Minister Gilbert Teodoro has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate actions against the Chinese diplomats alleged to have recorded the said telephone conversation. Eduardo Ano echoed Teodoro's sentiment, noting that if such a conversation occurred, recording it would be a grave violation of diplomatic protocols and the aforementioned convention, as reported by Manila Bulletin.
China responds: "It's a provocation"
Responding to the Philippine officials, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian labeled their statements provocative. He advocated for the Philippines to ensure Chinese diplomats can perform their duties without obstruction, as reported by Reuters Agency. "China officially requests the Philippine side to effectively secure the normal performance of duties by Chinese diplomatic personnel, stop violating and provoking, and refrain from denying facts," Lin articulated.