China tells PH: Ensure diplomats can perform duties normally

China told the Philippines to ensure that its diplomats in the country can still perform their duties amid a demand from various Filipino officials to recall the Chinese diplomat who allegedly wiretapped a conversation with a senior Philippine military official.

It cited anew the "new model" agreement on the West Philippine Sea to which the Philippines allegedly consented.

​Lin Jian, spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, made the remarks Friday night, May 10, after Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to expel the diplomat who illegally recorded a phone call with the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command. 

"The Philippines' response shows exactly their guilty conscience in the face of facts and evidence and how exasperated and desperate they have become," Lin said.

"We ask the Philippines to ensure that Chinese diplomats can carry out their duty normally, and to stop provocations and infringements.

On May 7, the Chinese Embassy in Manila shared with Manila Bulletin and another media organization the recording of a purported phone call between the "AFP WESCOM Chief" and a "Chinese diplomat," when they allegedly agreed to four points laid out under the "new model" in the management of dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

​It could not be confirmed if the recording was real or fake.

Teodoro said that if China really recorded the conversation, this was a violation of Philippine law.

Meanwhile, the DFA criticized China for releasing to the media an "unverifiable" audio recording and reminded the latter that diplomats must respect local laws and refrain from interfering in internal affairs.

Lin said that the Philippine "needs to quit denying the facts and must not make reckless moves that will only backfire on the Philippines itself."