While Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III believed the federal government must be cautious in declaring Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian as persona non grata, Senator JV Ejercito thinks the nation ought to now view China as an adversary.
In his message to reporters, Pimentel stated an envoy is a consultant of his nation.
“We should go slow in declaring foreign ambassadors as personas non grata. Avoid this as much as possible,” he stated.
“All grievances related to ambassadors and foreign relations must be coursed through our Department of Foreign Affairs so these grievances can be ‘professionally’ handled,” he added.
For his half, Ejercito stated that Huang, who represents the Chinese authorities, was “caught lying several times.”
“China should not be regarded as an ally anymore, but instead as an adversary,” he stated in a message to reporters.
The senators issued their remarks days after the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan declared Huang persona non grata.
The declaration was issued after Huang defended the usage of water cannons and harmful maneuvers by the China Coast Guard (CCG) towards Philippine vessels within the West Philippine Sea on August 5.
The Philippine Coast Guard vessels had been escorting boats bringing provides to servicemen stationed on the marooned BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal when the incident occurred.
The CCG stated it had taken “necessary controls” towards Philippine boats that had “illegally” entered what it referred to as its waters. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
