Palawan town declares Chinese envoy persona non grata

MANILA, January 30 ------ The local government of Kalayaan in Palawan has declared Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan persona non grata within its municipal jurisdiction, citing supposed violations of diplomatic protocol and interference in Philippine internal affairs.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Kalayaan approved the resolution during its regular session on January 27, Tuesday. Authored by Vice Mayor Maurice Phillip Alexis Albayda, the measure strongly condemned the ambassador’s recent actions. “It (resolution) is an expression of the Sanggunian being the representation of the people,” Albayda told reporters in a phone interview on Thursday.

The resolution cited Article 41, Section 1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which mandates that foreign diplomats “have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the host State.” According to the council, the Chinese Embassy in Manila crossed the line when it demanded that the Philippine government hold accountable Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela for his transparency efforts — “an act that constitutes an attempt to intimidate a Philippine official for performing his patriotic duty.” “The Ambassador’s office has sought to undermine Senator Kiko Pangilinan by dismissing his legitimate defense of our 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the 2016 arbitral ruling, choosing instead to issue ‘solemn representations’ that insult the legislative independence of a high-ranking Philippine officials,” the council added.

'PARA SA MGA NANININDIGAN SA AMIN'

Kalayaan is the country’s only municipality located in the West Philippine Sea. Its center on Pag-asa Island is where Manila asserts its sovereignty in the area. Albayda stressed that the move was meant to assert the town’s commitment to defending Philippine territorial integrity. “Kailangan naming tumayo para sa mga naninindigan para sa amin, like Commodore Tarriela who has been there to speak about the truth,” Albayda said. “Secondly, ang ating mga senador, ang ginagawa lang naman ay tumayo para sa kanilang pinaglilingkuran.” “Ang ating PCG as a spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea was appointed by the president. Our senators were also elected by the sovereign people of the Philippines. So, yung ginagawa ng embahada ng China sa pamamagitan ni Ambassador Jing Quan ay hindi maganda at kinakailangang i-call out,” he continued.

The vice mayor also described the resolution as symbolic, adding that it was intended to send a strong message. Declaring an individual persona non grata does not have the force of a law or an ordinance and that a person declared as such does not lose their constitutional right to equal protection of the law. “Yung ginawa po nating resolution sa pagpapa-persona non grata sa kanya ay pagpapaalala, pagpapakita po sa kanila na kami na nasa gitna ng West Philippine Sea na sinasabi nilang inaangkin nila ay hindi papayag na ipagpapatuloy nila ang mga naratibo,” Albayde stressed. “Alam nating hindi naman ‘yan pupunta dito sa amin, hindi naman sila bababa ng Pag-asa Island, but this is something that is symbolic,” he further said. “Though we are a small municipality, naninindigan po tayo kung ano yung sa atin, at sa ating karapatan sa West Philippine Sea.” he added.

Copies of the resolution were furnished to the Office of the Local Chief Executive, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the PCG, the Chinese Embassy, and several senators and congressmen.

CHINESE EMBASSY REJECTS INTERFERENCE CLAIM

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy on Wednesday rejected claims of interference, calling the move unnecessary. “I think there is no need to go through such trouble. They could simply declare Ambassador Jing Quan ‘persona non grata’—that would be the most straightforward approach. As ambassador, he bears responsibility for all words and actions of the Chinese Embassy,” said Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng. Ji was reacting to the call of some senators to declare Chinese Embassy deputy spokesperson Guo Wei persona non grata following the latter’s continued attacks against Filipino officials.

Ji noted that only President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has the authority to order an ambassador’s departure. If ordered to do so, Jing would depart immediately, the spokesperson added. “He would do so with immense pride and honor, knowing that through his actions, he has fulfilled the firm commitment a Chinese diplomat makes to his country,” Ji noted. “If anyone intends to declare any Chinese diplomat persona non grata, please do include myself and the entire 12-member media affairs and public diplomacy team. As a team, we stay or leave, together,” he added.

In August 2023, the Kalayaan municipal council also declared then-Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian as persona non grata after Beijing fired water cannon at PCG vessels in Ayungin Shoal.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com