The Department of National Defense (DND) strongly denounced remarks from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs warning that Philippine officials allegedly spreading disinformation could “pay the price.”
“The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines strongly condemn such an affront to any of its members and reiterates that it shall not be cowed by any official of the PROC (People’s Republic of China) whether in their homeland or as guests here,” said DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong.
“We shall continue to speak against their lies and malign actions when such are committed,” he added.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun earlier cautioned “relevant individuals in the Philippines” to stop provocations or “they will pay the price for what they did.”
The DND countered that such pronouncements reflect Beijing’s “twisted attempt” to spread false narratives and intimidate smaller nations.
“The WPS (West Philippine Sea) and any of its features have never been part of the PROC and we shall continue to perform our duty to stop the PROC’s malign influence and illegal activities in our areas of jurisdiction,” Andolong stressed.
The statement follows China’s diplomatic protest against Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, who defended his social media posts as “factual accounts.”
Tensions remain high as Beijing continues to assert sweeping claims over the South China Sea, despite the 2016 Hague tribunal ruling that invalidated its position.
The Philippines, meanwhile, maintains its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, reinforcing its jurisdiction over key maritime areas.