Key facts
- DFA said public criticism of China can undermine diplomatic efforts and complicate the work of Philippine diplomats.
- DFA said all officials, civilian or military, are expected to align with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s policy directions.
- DFA said officials may not pursue preferred approaches toward China without regard for the government's overall policy.
- DFA said the Lazaro-Wang Yi call was part of a "deliberate effort" to maintain bilateral relations before, during and after the ASEAN and APEC summits.
- DFA called statements by various Philippine officials against China's words and actions in the West Philippine Sea "regrettable."
- DFA said releasing footage or shaping an online narrative does not by itself act as a physical deterrent at sea or a legal strategy.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday rebuked other government bodies and officials over their public comments about China, saying such remarks can undermine diplomatic efforts and that officials must align with the administration's response. The DFA said the remarks were made ahead of the ASEAN and APEC summits.
In a statement, the DFA said the President is the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy under the Constitution and that all government officials, civilian or military, are expected to align with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s policy directions. It said individual officials, agencies or sectors do not independently determine the direction of international relations and may not pursue preferred approaches toward China or any other partner without regard for the government's overall policy.
The DFA issued the statement after Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro spoke with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi by phone, part of a "deliberate effort," the DFA said, to maintain bilateral relations before, during and after the upcoming ASEAN and APEC summits. The ASEAN Summit is scheduled in Metro Manila from November 16 to 18, while the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is scheduled in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19, according to GMA News Online.
The DFA called recent statements by various Philippine officials against China's words and actions in the West Philippine Sea "regrettable." It said those statements "incorrectly merged" documentary evidence, public rhetoric and official diplomatic messaging, and by doing so "undermine the government's diplomatic approach" and "complicate the work of our diplomats."