The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have issued a sharp rebuke to comments made by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo, who accused Philippine service members of inciting confrontation and acting out of “personal political motives.”
Guo, speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, described the conduct of certain Philippine personnel as “outrageous and absurd” and warned that “relevant individuals in the Philippines” would “pay the price” if they continued what he called provocations.
The DND, through spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio R. Andolong, condemned the remarks as a direct affront to the country’s uniformed services.
“We shall not be cowed by any official of the PROC whether in their homeland or as guests here, and we shall continue to speak against their lies and malign actions when such are committed,” Andolong said.
The department underscored that the West Philippine Sea (WPS) “has never been part of the PROC” and vowed to continue asserting jurisdiction against what it described as Beijing’s “malign influence and illegal activities.”
The statement characterized China’s remarks as part of a “twisted attempt to spread distorted narratives” and a “distasteful campaign to bully smaller countries.”
The exchange adds to the series of diplomatic and maritime confrontations between Manila and Beijing in the WPS, where tensions have escalated amid repeated incidents involving Chinese vessels and Philippine patrols. (ZIA LUNA)
