After over six weeks of exchanges between the Chinese embassy and Philippine officials, the DFA urged calm and professional responses. The Chinese embassy called for the Philippines to speak with a unified voice. Philippine troops remain unaffected by the tensions, the Navy said.
Amid an ongoing word war, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a statement on February 11, 2026, urging calm and professional responses in diplomatic interactions, according to Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva Jr. The Chinese embassy responded that the Philippines should speak with a unified and constructive voice, with the DFA leading efforts to manage differences. On February 13, the DFA released another statement criticizing 'casual commentators, non-practitioners, and self-styled experts' while emphasizing the national interest.
The Philippine Navy stated that troops remain unaffected by the word war, with Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad noting high military morale. Officials in Kalayaan, Palawan, declared Chinese diplomats persona non grata, prompting China to ban those 16 officials from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The DFA said the ban does not contribute to good ties.
Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng blamed Philippine Coast Guard's Commodore Jay Tarriela for recent exchanges. Ambassador Jing Quan urged dialogue to manage differences. The article calls for convening the National Maritime Council to demonstrate unity.
Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal stressed that the Philippines must unite on West Philippine Sea issues for the nation's interest. As ASEAN chair in 2026, it must safeguard minimum standards in Code of Conduct talks.
