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While rejecting the contents of a transcript of an alleged wiretapped conversation between a senior Philippine military commander and a Chinese diplomat, security officials are pressing for the expulsion of the Chinese Embassy officers who were supposedly involved for violating Philippine law and diplomatic protocols.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Friday said the embassy’s action of releasing “spurious transcripts or recordings of purported conversations between officials of the host country—should not be allowed to pass unsanctioned or without serious penalty.”
“Those individuals in the Chinese Embassy responsible for violating Philippine laws and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and those responsible for these malign influence and interference operations must be removed from the country immediately,” he said in a statement.
The Chinese Embassy earlier this week released a transcript of the alleged phone conversation between an unidentified Chinese diplomat and Western Command (Wescom) chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos supposedly on Jan. 3 this year.
Carlos could not be reached for comment. He has not publicly spoken about the alleged recording since he went on “personal leave,” which was announced by the Armed Forces of the Philippines early this week.
In the transcript, Carlos “confirmed” that Año and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. approved an arrangement for the resupply of provisions for troops manning BRP Sierra Madre, a rusted ship serving as the military’s outpost at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
A key item in the “new model” was the Philippine side’s agreement not to deliver construction materials to preserve or reinforce the crumbling ship, which was intentionally grounded by the Navy on the shoal in 1999.
Both Año and Teodoro denied approving the purported arrangement on Ayungin. Teodoro added that only President Marcos could approve any deal on the West Philippine Sea.
Responding to the Philippine officials’ statements, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry in Beijing on Friday demanded that Manila ceases “being provocative” and allow its diplomats to perform their duties normally.
