MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 10, 2026 — China has condemned the Philippine Senate’s adoption of Resolution No. 256, which denounced remarks made by the Chinese Embassy in Manila against Filipino officials who defended the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng labeled the resolution “anti-China” and a “political stunt,” accusing senators of “twisting facts and misleading the public.” Ji further claimed that Philippine legislators “knew little about how diplomacy works” and were resorting to “threats and intimidation” against Chinese diplomats. 

“We firmly reject and strongly condemn the said anti-China resolution,” Ji said, warning that there would be consequences for what he described as “hypocrisy, ignorance, and recklessness.”

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III fired back, saying the Chinese Embassy had no right to dismiss the resolution as a mere stunt. “He is claiming that we are intimidating Chinese diplomats, yet he continues to speak disrespectfully against us and calls the Senate resolution a mere political stunt,” Sotto said. He added that the same criticism about ignorance of diplomacy could be applied to the Chinese official himself.

The Senate resolution, signed by 15 senators, was passed after lengthy deliberations and interpellations. It condemned the language used by Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan and other embassy officials, saying their remarks against Philippine lawmakers and institutions departed from diplomatic norms. 

The measure was intended to assert the Senate’s position in defending the country’s maritime rights and sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

The diplomatic row underscores the escalating tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese vessels have repeatedly harassed Philippine ships. Analysts say the Senate’s move reflects growing frustration over China’s aggressive posture, while Beijing’s sharp response highlights its sensitivity to criticism. 

Sovereignty Debates Are Now Messaging Wars

The West Philippine Sea dispute is no longer confined to coast guard standoffs and patrol routes. It is increasingly fought through language, where statements, accusations, and “official reactions” become tools meant to shape public perception and political legitimacy.

China’s condemnation of a Senate resolution shows how narrative control has become part of strategy. By branding criticism as a “political stunt,” the goal is not simply rebuttal but delegitimization, casting Philippine institutions as irrational actors rather than sovereign decision-makers.

This puts pressure on Manila to respond not just with policy but with unity. In a conflict where words are weapons, how much damage can be done before ships even move?