Ex-officials criticise Duterte administration’s soft approach towards China, as Philippine foreign ministry cancels diplomatic passports

Former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario, who was turned away from Hong Kong last week, called the move by the foreign ministry a ‘distraction’

Del Rosario and other officials have called his criticism of China and President Xi Jinping the reason his diplomatic passport privileges were not recognised

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Former Philippine foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario. Photo: AP

Published: 10:20pm, 24 Jun 2019Updated: 9:36am, 25 Jun 2019

The Philippine foreign ministry’s decision to cancel all courtesy diplomatic passports after a former top diplomat using the document was turned away from Hong Kong has sparked incredulity and anger, with several ex-officials blaming President Rodrigo Duterte for his soft approach towards China.

Former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario, who was unable to enter Hong Kong for a business meeting last Friday, said he could not “think of one good reason why this is happening”.

“Instead of fully investigating what the Philippines should be doing to respond to this disrespect, they are instead distracting the public by cancelling diplomatic passports,” he said in a statement.

Hong Kong authorities did not say why del Rosario, who was attending board and shareholder meetings of the Indonesian Salim group-owned First Pacific, was held up at the airport. It said it reserved the right to decide which individuals are allowed to enter the territory.

Hong Kong is governed by Beijing under the “one country, two systems” formula and enjoys certain freedoms that people on the mainland do not receive.

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said “it is entirely within China’s sovereignty to allow or deny one’s entry”. China is pressing ahead with the development of sound and steady relations with the Philippines, he said.