The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has conveyed concern over the Chinese Embassy's warning that the current row between Filipino officials and the embassy could cost millions of jobs for Filipinos.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs notes with concern the Chinese Embassy's statement attributing job losses among Filipinos to strained bilateral relations," the DFA said in a statement on Monday, Feb. 16.

The DFA stressed that it "values cooperation with all states across economic, cultural, and other domains, as it delivers clear benefits to the Philippines and its people."

It, however, strongly took exception to the embassy's tone when it said that "any serious damage to diplomatic relations, including downgrading of those relations, would cost millions of jobs."

"However, we take strong exception to the Embassy's tone, which appears to imply that such cooperation could be withheld as a form of leverage or retaliation," the DFA said.

"In the current  atmosphere, this framing risks being perceived as coercive and undermines constructive bilateral dialogue," the department added.

With this, the DFA has urged the Chinese Embassy anew to "adopt a responsible and measured tone in public exchanges."

It reiterated that "the DFA remains committed to diplomacy to stabilize and advance our bilateral relationship, notwithstanding profound differences."

Earlier, Malacañang stressed that friendly and healthy discussion must come from both countries, and should not only be coming from one side.

Both countries, she said, should work together to maintain mutual respect.

"Ang pag-i-escalate ng tensiyon sa pagitan po ng China at Pilipinas, hindi po ito dapat na nagmumula sa isang bansa. Ang pagsaalang-alang sa friendly discussion at sa healthy dialogue ay dapat nagmumula sa dalawang bansa – hindi lamang mula sa Pilipinas, hindi lamang lamang mula sa China (As for the escalation of tension between China and the Philippines, this should not come from just one country. The consideration of friendly discussions and healthy dialogue should come from both countries—not only from the Philippines and not only from China)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing on Monday.

"Dapat ito po ay dalawang bansa ang nagpupursige para magkaroon po ng mutual respect sa bawat isa (Both countries must make an effort to achieve mutual respect for each other)," Castro added.

The Palace official also echoed President Marcos' position over declaring an envoy persona non grata.

"Ang sabi po ng Pangulo diyan, hindi na kailangang tapusin ang question mula sa media dahil ang sagot niya po ay ‘No, hindi po kinakailangang palitan'(The President said that there was no need to even finish the media’s question because his answer was, 'No, there is no need to replace')," Castro said.

A "word war" has ensued between the Chinese Embassy and several Filipino officials over issues in the West Philippine Sea. It led to Filipino lawmakers proposing to declare the Chinese ambassador persona non grata. The call was, however, rejected by President Marcos.