Sen. Erwin Tulfo confirms dialogue with Chinese ambassador next week

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo, head of the Senate panel on foreign relations, is set to have a dialogue with Chinese ambassador Jing Quan on Monday. 

Tulfo confirmed the matter to reporters on Friday, amid the word war between Filipino lawmakers and the Chinese embassy in Manila. 

“Yes. Confirming this. It was arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Thank you,” Tulfo told reporters in a text message when he was asked if there would, indeed, be a meeting between him with Jing. 

Tulfo did not elaborate on the details of the meeting even if his office was pressed to disclose where it would be held as well as who would attend the said event. 

Foreign Affairs Spokesperson on Maritime Affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr., in a separate press conference also on Friday, said the agency welcomes the openness of the Senate to hold the dialogue with the Chinese embassy in Manila. 

“It is our belief that the Senate is already making direct representations with the embassy in Manila to find a mutually convenient date in that dialogue. The DFA supports that openness expressed by the Senate to hold this meeting with the Chinese embassy,” he said. 

Villanueva said the DFA is ready to provide assistance for the said dialogue should the Senate reach out for assistance.

Fifteen senators from across the political spectrum have earlier inked a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in condemning recent public statements made by the Chinese embassy in Manila which criticized Philippine officials and institutions for positions taken in defense of national sovereignty and maritime rights. 

Under Senate Resolution No. 256, the lawmakers stressed that the language used by a Chinese embassy official, directed at incumbent members of Congress, departs from “the restraint, courtesy, and responsibility expected of diplomatic communications” and runs counter to “the principles of mutual respect and non-interference” among states.

Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in Manila likewise filed a diplomatic protest against Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard  spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, over his alleged smearing of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “dignity.” 

The move came days after Tarriela posted a photo of himself in front of a flatscreen television displaying an image collage that appeared to be an AI-generated picture of Xi. /gsg