Jonathan Frederic De Santos

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. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “respects the freedom of expression” of Chinese diplomats in the Philippines, Malacañang said on Wednesday as Senate and Chinese Embassy officials continue to exchange heated statements over Beijing’s continued claim in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>The Palace’s comment comes a day after Senate President Vicente Sotto III blasted the Chinese Embassy for criticizing a Senate resolution that called out Beijing’s illegal maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/9/cayetano-pangilinan-clash-over-tarriela-resolution-on-china-1947">Senate adopts resolution condemning Chinese officials&#x27; remarks vs PH authorities after Pangilinan, Cayetano&#x27;s debate</a></div><p>“Ang Pangulo ay rumerespeto sa kalayaan ng pamamahayag. Kung may kalayaan ang China sa pamamahayag, ganoon din ang sinumang Pilipino,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters when sought for comment.</p><p>(The president respects freedom of expression. If China has freedom of expression, then so does any Filipino)</p><p>She said Chinese Embassy officials are free to air their sentiments as are the members of the Senate.</p><p>Castro took a similar stance when asked on China’s decision to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/10/chinese-embassy-says-kalayaan-officials-not-welcome-in-china-1911">ban local officials of Kalayaan, Palawan</a> — a Philippine territory that includes Pag-asa Island — from entering China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau.</p><p>The Sangguniang Bayan of Kalayaan earlier approved a resolution declaring the  Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan &quot;persona non grata&quot; during its regular session on January 27.</p><p>“Kung ano ang naging desisyon ng China, hindi natin ito saklaw, tulad na hindi nila dapat saklawan kung ano man ang nagiging desisyon ng administrasyong ito,” Castro said.</p><p>(We have no say in China&#x27;s decisions, in the same way that they should not interfere with any decisions of this administration)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/10/carpio-details-topics-for-wps-debate-with-marcoleta-2048">Carpio details topics for WPS debate with Marcoleta<br/></a></div><p>While Castro said that having a more aggressive stance towards China is not the lone solution to solve the Philippines’ issues with Asia’s largest economy, the Palace official declined to comment on how Manila can demonstrate that it is simply not backing down from the economic powerhouse.</p><p>“The president says we have a firm stance on our position with regard to our rights to our own territory,” she said, adding the Palace is leaving further comment to Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ERWIN TULFO TO ASK SENATORS TO TONE DOWN<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairperson Erwin Tulfo earlier said that he would ask his fellow senators to tone down rhetoric against China while discussions on the passage of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea are ongoing.</p><p>The Philippines — chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year — is currently pushing for the passage of the sea code, a document that would outline how claimant countries should diplomatically settle disputes in the strategic waterway where trillions worth of seaborne goods pass through annually.</p><p>The passage of the COC has been stalled for decades as parties — including China — struggle to reach consensus on several issues, including whether or not the sea code should be legally binding.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1pfO6JzoySc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Palace’s comment comes a day after Senate President Vicente Sotto III blasted the Chinese Embassy for criticizing a Senate resolution that called out Beijing’s illegal maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The Palace’s comment comes a day after Senate President Vicente Sotto III blasted the Chinese Embassy for criticizing a Senate resolution that called out Beijing’s illegal maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea.

Palace: China's diplomats have as much freedom of speech as Filipinos do

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Palace: China's diplomats have as much freedom of speech as Filipinos do

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 11, 2026 01:22 PM PHT

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Chinese Embassy

Kalayaan

Kalayaan Island Group

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Claire Castro

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