Senator Imee Marcos exhorted public officials to refrain from intemperate language and public sparring on matters involving foreign affairs, warning that reckless rhetoric could undermine diplomatic efforts and harm the country’s international standing.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, filed Senate Resolution No. 267, calling for sobriety, professionalism, and discipline in public communications amid escalating exchanges between Philippine and Chinese officials.

Marcos is among the senators who did not sign the resolution expressing the sense of the Senate condemning the recent public statements made by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China that criticized Philippine officials and institutions that defend the country's national sovereignty and maritime rights.

“I do not seek to silence debate, suppress patriotism, or diminish the right of officials to defend Philippine sovereignty,” Marcos said.

“But reckless statements and intemperate rhetoric can have real consequences on bilateral relations and our ability to protect national interests, particularly in sensitive areas such as the maritime domain,” she added.

The senator cited repeated advisories from the Department of Foreign Affairs cautioning against public exchanges that could escalate tensions, stressing that differences between states are best addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than public confrontation.

“We have to trust and respect the mandate of the Department of Foreign Affairs,” she said.

“Under the law, the DFA is the lead agency in the conduct of our foreign relations, and it must be given the necessary latitude to manage tensions, preserve diplomatic space, and advance our national interest,” she added.