MANILA, Philippines — January 24, 2026 — The Chinese Embassy in Manila has issued a sharp rebuke against Senator Risa Hontiveros after she accused the embassy of being overly sensitive, saying freedom of speech should not be used as a license to defame or attack foreign leaders.

In a Facebook post, Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei stressed that while China respects free expression, it will not tolerate what it described as “reckless defamation” directed at its head of state. 

“No one wants to silence you, and no one should be silenced. But freedom of speech is NOT a license to recklessly defame or attack others, let alone the head of state of another country—this is completely unacceptable,” Guo said.

The embassy confirmed that China’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Philippine Ambassador in Beijing to lodge a strong protest over what it called “attacks and smears” against Chinese leadership. 

Guo further questioned the motives behind Hontiveros’s statements, suggesting they were politically driven. “Are you really ‘advocating the interest of the Philippines and the Filipinos’? Or are you simply pursuing your own political gains? If you truly care about the country, you wouldn’t repeatedly twist the facts, mislead the Filipino public and incite hostility just to stay in the spotlight,” he added.

Guo described Hontiveros’s remarks as “political theater,” warning that ordinary Filipinos would bear the consequences of such rhetoric. “What you’re doing isn’t advocacy—it’s political theater. And the price of that theater is paid not by you, but by ordinary Filipinos who deserve stability, cooperation, and truth, not manufactured confrontation,” the embassy said.

The statement was issued in response to Hontiveros’s earlier post defending Philippine officials who have spoken out against Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea. “Hindi kami pwedeng manahimik. Hindi pwedeng manahimik lamang si Commodore Tarriela. Di kami pwedeng tumigil dahil baka ma-hurt yung feelings ng Chinese Embassy. Tungkulin naming itaguyod ang interes ng Pilipinas at nating mga Pilipino,” Hontiveros wrote.

The exchange underscores escalating tensions between Manila and Beijing, with Philippine lawmakers and officials increasingly vocal about China’s activities in disputed waters. The embassy’s strong language highlights Beijing’s growing frustration over criticisms from Philippine leaders, while Hontiveros’s remarks reflect continued calls for defending national sovereignty.

Image from Chinese Embassy Manila Facebook