China’s embassy in Manila is once again trading barbs with yet another Philippine government official, this time with Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, whom it advised to be responsible in asserting facts.

“Rep. Diokno, before hastily assigning labels or making accusations, it would be both responsible and prudent to first ascertain the facts,” the embassy said over the weekend.

The embassy, already criticized by some Philippine officials to be acting more of like” Chinese trolls” than a diplomatic mission, made the remark after Diokno said its attacks on our officials "constitute a clear violation of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

"Article 41 explicitly requires diplomats to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State and, most importantly, to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs," Diokno said.

Prior to this, the embassy, through its deputy spokesman Guo Wei, had engaged in back-and-forth arguments with various government officials, including Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, and the National Maritime Council (NMC).

Since the start of the year, under the ambassadorship of its new envoy, Jing Quan, the embassy has been responding to statements made by Philippine officials asserting the country's rights over the West Philippine Sea by countering them with Chinese claims that had already been rejected by international law.

The embassy said Diokno’s “logic is fundamentally erroneous” while laying down its own counterarguments.

It, particularly, responded to Pangilinan’s remark that China’s military drills in Taiwan brought ill will all around; to De Lima’s remark that China’s stand on South China Sea was Orwellian doublespeak, the NMC’s remark that tensions at sea were result of China’s persistent illegal activities; to Tarriela’s political propaganda accusation against Beijing, among others.

“There is a Chinese saying goes ‘we do not offend others unless being offended; if being offended, we will respond,’” the embassy defended Beijing.

“On every occasion, certain Philippine individuals and institutions have persistently launched attacks, accusations, and smears against China in the absence of factual basis. China indisputably has every right to share the basic facts and correct the distorted narratives,” it added.

The embassy said China—which has been firing water cannons at Filipino fishers within the West Philippine Sea—“does not provoke conflict.”“However, any provocation will be met with a firm response. Failing to do so would be a dereliction of the Embassy’s duties,” it added.