Q: According to media reports, Senator JV Ejercito claimed that there are intelligence reports that some Filipinos are tapped by China and funded by China to cause trouble internally and he urged Filipinos to unite against China. But he is dismayed that he is now being trolled by many Filipinos because of his anti-China stand. It is also reported that more and more Filipinos are voicing their concern about the current state of China-Philippines relations and  calling on the Philippine government to properly handle the South China Sea disputes through dialogue. What is the Embassy’s comment on this?

A: In the past few months, some Filipino politicians and officials, out of political self-interests, repeatedly dramatized and hyped up maritime differences between China and the Philippines, aiming at smearing and demonizing China and silencing the advocates of China-Philippines friendship. A few of these people even went as far as groundlessly attacking the performance of normal duties of Chinese embassy and diplomats and fanning regional and world war. Such irresponsible remarks heightened tensions over the South China Sea, poisoned the atmosphere of China-Philippines relations and undermined the diplomatic efforts to manage our differences through dialogue and consultation. Friendship and cooperation between China and the Philippines serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and reflect the common aspirations of the two peoples. It is no surprise that one’s anti-China stance gains no support from the general public.

China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The allegation that China is tapping and funding Filipinos to destabilize the Philippines is categorically false and baseless. Who fabricated and provided such vicious intelligence reports? Out of what motivation? These questions are alarming and answers pressing. China has always advocated and remains committed to properly managing maritime differences through dialogue and consultation. China will keep the door of dialogue and contact open. We urge those said individuals to do more in line with the interests of the Filipino people and China-Philippines friendship, instead of making irresponsible anti-China accusations. We also hope that the Philippine government listens to the voice of reason, acts upon the call of the two peoples, works with China to earnestly honor the consensus of the two heads-of-state on properly handling disputes through dialogue and consultation so as to ensure sound growth of China-Philippines ties and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.