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Alexis Romero, Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
January 30, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Declaring Chinese embassy personnel persona non grata or unwelcome persons for their statements against some Filipino officials is “an option of last resort,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday, as it cited the importance of dialogue in addressing issues with its foreign counterparts.
The Chinese embassy has drawn flak for its remarks against Philippine officials who had criticized China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
Some senators have proposed that Chinese embassy officials be declared persona non grata, a declaration that can be made by President Marcos as head of state.
But the DFA pointed out that such a declaration has “tremendous implications” and should not be taken lightly. In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro noted that the declaration of persona non grata is one of the most severe forms of diplomatic action that can be imposed by the government on foreign diplomatic personnel.
“While it is within the remit of the DFA, such an action is an option of last resort, second only to downgrading of relations when diplomatic relations with a certain country has seriously fractured that no intervening remedy can stabilize the interaction and engagement,” Lazaro said in a statement read by Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press briefing.
“It also carries tremendous implications moving forward such as reciprocal action or other countermeasures in other areas which is why it should not be made lightly, and decided only with careful and clear thought and preparedness for how it will shape the Philippines’ strategic interest moving forward,” she added.
Lazaro said the DFA remains committed to its mandate of conducting diplomacy in appropriate and effective manner that advances the overall national interests. The agency is in direct communication with the Chinese government on various bilateral and international issues of great importance to the Philippines, she added.
“It is hoped that the DFA would be provided with ample space to perform its functions and to sort out issues with foreign counterparts through dialogue and consultation rather than through public discourse in accordance with the President’s vision and guidance as the architect of Philippine foreign policy,” the country’s top diplomat said.
When asked about Marcos’ position on declaring Chinese embassy officials persona non grata, Castro said Lazaro’s statement reflected Marcos’ stance on the matter. She added that a firm action on the West Philippine Sea issue can go hand-in-hand with diplomacy.
China claims practically the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, the area within Manila’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
An international arbitral court voided China’s expansive maritime claim in 2016, but the Chinese government downplayed the ruling as “illegal” and “a mere piece of paper.”
Aiming for CoC
At the same press briefing, Malacañang expressed optimism that a binding code of conduct for South China Sea claimants would be completed during the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.
In 2002, ASEAN member countries and China inked the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to address maritime disputes peacefully. A legally binding code of conduct has yet to be approved.
At a briefing after the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Mandaue City, Cebu, Lazaro said the regional bloc would try to finish by this year the negotiations for a binding code of conduct in the South China Sea.
The Philippines, as ASEAN chairman for this year, has proposed the conduct of “monthly face-to-face meetings,” which has been “accepted by our ASEAN colleagues.”
Asked if China agreed, she said, “We’re in the process of talking to them, but I don’t see any difficulties with that.”
She admitted “there had not been any result or decision on the contentious issues” in the code of conduct, which Lazaro also called “milestone issues.”
“One ASEAN member state came up with a paper on one of the milestones, and then there were other member states who are now coming up with papers on the milestone issues,” she noted.
On the part of the Philippines, Lazaro said the country would tackle one of the milestone issues particularly the “definition of self-restraint,” or even “terms of reference of that issue, the definition of self-restraint.”
At Malacañang, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said security measures are in place to ensure the country’s peaceful and orderly hosting of the ASEAN summit and related meetings.
Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology is investigating an unauthorized disclosure of documents related to preparations for ASEAN summit activities. — Pia Lee-Brago, Emmanuel Tupas
