The Philippines will act on the Chinese Embassy in Manila's alleged wiretapping of conversation between its diplomat and a Philippine military official if it will be proven guilty in the investigation that the government has rolled out.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo on Tuesday said the government’s action will base on the rules set under the Vienna Convention.
The government will use any diplomatic agency or entity as a venue to lobby its concern against China, "if there's any wrongdoing of any kind," added Manalo.
This came as DFA was urged by various government agencies to probe into China's wiretapping of phone call between its diplomat and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command chief, who supposedly agreed on the "new model" in the management of the sea dispute.
Wiretapping is illegal under Republic Act No. 4200.
The phone call allegedly happened in January 2023, a ranking official of the Chinese embassy told Manila Bulletin that was let heard the recording.
"We will have to see whatever evidence," the Foreign Affairs chief told reporters at the sidelines of the 2024 Indo-Pacific Business Forum. He clarified that DFA has not received any evidence yet.
"The main point is they have to comply with Philippine rules and regulation, just like we have to comply with their rules and regulations," he added.
On May 16, China already brushed off DFA's move to conduct an investigation.
Asked about Beijing’s comment on DFA’s move, Wang Wenbin, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, instead said that “the information released by the Chinese Embassy in Manila is factual.”
“Whether it’s the ‘gentlemen’s agreement,’ or the internal understandings, or the ‘new model’ on properly managing the situation in the South China Sea, they all have clear timelines and are supported by solid evidence,” Wang said in a press conference.
“No one can deny their existence,” he added.