Chinese embassy in PH claims 'one country kidnapped another country's president'
(Photo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China)
China's embassy in Manila has accused one country of going into another sovereign country and kidnapping its president.
Guo Wei, deputy spokesman of the Chinese embassy in the Philippines, made a vague statement where he stressed that "everyone knows where the concepts of 'transparency initiative' and 'rules-based order' come from."
He said, "That country that claims to uphold so-called 'rules and order' went into another sovereign state and even kidnapped its president."
"So is that what they call 'rules'?" Guo then asked.
Guo’s remark was made in the latter part of his statement posted on the embassy’s social media pages on Tuesday night, Jan. 13.
In the earlier part of his statement, he justified the Chinese vessels' actions when, as Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela reported, they harassed Filipino fishers en route to Bajo de Masinloc on Jan. 12 by blaring sirens and blocking their path.
Guo said China's actions were conducted "in accordance with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone," adding that "throughout the process, both sides maintained a safe distance, and no incidents, including any collisions, occurred."
Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said statements by the embassy "should be of serious concern to us Filipinos and our leaders as it comes on the heels of the US attack on Venezuela, threatened action against Iran, and claims over Greenland."
"China says defending what is rightfully ours under international law is not to our benefit, as it deprives us of their friendship. Of course, China is not offering friendship as it is demanding capitulation," de Lima said.
"They are not asking us to be their friends. They are asking the Philippines to be their vassal. That is what the intimidation, aggression, and violence in the WPS (West Philippine Sea) is all about," she added.
De Lima said the embassy must just stop "pretending to be a diplomatic mission" and instead convert itself into "just another Chinese troll farm" if it chooses to "spread lies about China's aggression" in the West Philippine Sea.