Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during the Palace briefing on February 16, 2026. Screen grabbed from RTVM’s livestream.
Malacañang said on Monday that the Philippines and China needed to continue constructive engagement despite persistent tensions over territorial issues.
At a Palace briefing, Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro addressed concerns over statements from the Chinese Embassy warning that heightened political rhetoric against Ambassador Jing Quan, including calls for his replacement, could affect employment opportunities for Filipinos.
Castro stressed that rising tensions should not be attributed to one side alone, noting that both nations had a role in maintaining open and respectful communication.
She said friendly exchanges and sustained dialogue were necessary to prevent further strain in bilateral relations and to promote mutual respect between the two countries.
The Department of Foreign Affairs had earlier raised concern over increasingly heated exchanges involving Filipino officials, some senators, and Chinese diplomats in Manila in connection with the dispute in the South China Sea.
In January, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz to lodge a protest over remarks made by Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, criticizing Beijing’s actions in contested waters.
The Chinese Embassy also denounced a Senate resolution, describing it as hostile toward China amid the ongoing maritime dispute.
Meanwhile, embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng accused some Philippine lawmakers of allegedly distorting facts and issuing threats against Chinese diplomats during the exchanges.