Philippines rebukes officials over public comments about China
The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has issued a rare rebuke to government officials and agencies for making public comments about China, emphasizing the need for a unified voice as the country prepares for an important regional summit. The statement specifically addressed the national security establishment and uniformed services, which have been engaged in a long-standing conflict with China over the South China Sea.
The DFA stressed that such actions can undermine the Philippines' credibility in international affairs and project an image of internal division that external parties can exploit. China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, urged the Philippines to rein in politicians who have "smeared" Beijing and crossed its "red lines" in a recent phone call.
Brief written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
