Camille Naredo

Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, ahead of Chinese president Xi Jinping's state visit in the country. Xi will be visiting the country from November 20 to 21. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Flying the Chinese flag

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176983915439420181119-chinese-flag-xi-jinping-state-visit-MD-8757.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — As the &quot;word war&quot; between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine officials continues, national security experts stressed that the exchange reflects only a small part of China&#x27;s larger strategy to expand its activities in the West Philippine Sea, with possible implications for the country&#x27;s economic ties with Beijing.</p><p>The issue escalated earlier this week, after several senators scorned Chinese Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei for reportedly criticizing lawmakers who expressed support for Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;Ito pong nangyayaring palitan ng maaanghang na salita between our government and the embassy. Ang aking personal opinion po dyan, tip of the iceberg. We should expect more of these types of activities. And ito pong mga activities na ito ay nakalink sa ating mga maritime territories,&quot; Dr. Sherwin Ona of De La Salle University explained.</p><p>Several lawmakers have floated the idea of declaring certain Chinese officials persona non grata, a move Malacañang recently rejected, emphasizing that such action should only be taken as a last resort.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/30/palace-marcos-shuns-persona-non-grata-tag-vs-chinese-embassy-officials-1439">READ: Marcos shuns ‘persona non grata’ tag vs Chinese embassy officials -- Palace</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/30/talk-of-persona-non-grata-declaration-vs-chinese-envoy-irks-embassy-0953">READ: Talk of &#x27;persona non grata&#x27; declaration vs Chinese envoy irks embassy</a></div><p>On January 29, the Chinese Embassy said that should President Marcos proceed with such a move, their ambassador would leave &quot;with immense pride and honor, knowing that through his actions, he has fulfilled the firm commitment a Chinese diplomat makes to his country.&quot;</p><p>Political analyst Ronald Llamas noted that discussions about declaring Chinese officials persona non grata are not meant as an immediate response but rather serve as a political signal.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung usapin ng persona non grata is more a political statement, bisita kayo rito tapos kayo pa nambabastos, kayo pa yung agresibo. Kung ipagpapatuloy niyo yan, idedeklara namin kayo ng persona non grata. Hindi ibig sabihin ito ang unang response, ito ang last resort. Ipinapaalala lang natin sa kanila na bisita namin kayo rito. &#x27;Wag naman kayong ganyan, katulad ng ginagawa niyo sa WPS, inaako niyo,&quot; he said in an interview with DZMM.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A GLOBAL INITIATIVE</strong></div><p>Ona further explained that China&#x27;s wolf-warrior diplomacy, particularly its aggressive counter-narratives to the Philippine government&#x27;s transparency efforts, operates as part of a worldwide strategy.</p><p>&quot;Pag didictate nila ng kanilang mga narratives, global po yan. And alam nyo naman din yung investment nila sa online, especially sa mga trolls. At ngayon po, yung AI technologies, artificial intelligence, lahat po yan ay ginagamit upang maipush yung narrative or agenda,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/29/asean-views-with-concern-land-reclamations-serious-incidents-in-s-china-sea-2206">READ: ASEAN views with concern land reclamations, ‘serious incidents’ in S. China Sea</a></div><p>Because of this, Ona underscored the importance of expanding the country&#x27;s transparency initiatives globally and reinforcing military partnerships with other countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia.</p><p>&quot;Dahil nga, alam naman natin na hindi natin kaya i-match ship per ship or aircraft per aircraft sa lakas ng China sa karagatan at sa panghimpapawid… Ito yung pagpapahiwatig na involve ang mga bansang ito, involve ang karamihan ng mga bansa at nire-recognize nila yung tinatawag na rule of law,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NOT THE END OF THE ECONOMIC WORLD</strong></div><p>Despite the escalating verbal exchanges between China and the Philippines, political analysts maintained that bilateral economic relations are unlikely to suffer significant damage.</p><p>&quot;Hindi yun yung end of the world ng ating relationship with the PRC. So meron pa rin cultural, economic aspect yung ating relationship. So, maganda na yan. Para sa aking pananaw na bukas pa rin itong mga avenues na ito… At alam naman natin na malaking economic power ang China sa ating rehiyon at sa buong mundo,&quot; Ona said.</p><p>&quot;At the end of the day, magkukonsume pa rin ang mga tao, bibili ng pagkain, bibili ng mga materyales ... So it will not stop kung mayroong mga political differences at ang mga leader ng mga bansa kasi iba yung economic life sa political life,&quot; explained Gary Dionisio, Dean of the School of Diplomacy and Governance at De La Salle College of St. Benilde, in a DZMM interview.</p><p>Dionisio, however, reiterated the need to critically examine the ongoing verbal exchanges, particularly when these are used to undermine the government in ways that could eventually affect economic relations.</p><p>&quot;Ang nakakabahala lang kung itong mga pangyayaring ito, for example, ito lang ay assumption lang naman ito, kung ang direktiba rin talaga, halimbawa, yung gantong mga statement ay nakakabit para pahinain mo rin talaga yung current government,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>As the "word war" between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine officials continues, national security experts stressed that the exchange reflects only a small part of China's larger strategy to expand its activities in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

As the "word war" between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine officials continues, national security experts stressed that the exchange reflects only a small part of China's larger strategy to expand its activities in the West Philippine Sea.

Tip of the iceberg: Analysts see possible economic impact, security concerns amid 'word war' between PH, China

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Tip of the iceberg: Analysts see possible economic impact, security concerns amid 'word war' between PH, China

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 31, 2026 02:02 PM PHT

Read More:

China

Philippines

West Philippine Sea

maritime conflict

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