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My Take | How China’s assertive diplomacy has reached ‘another level of disrespect’ and become the new normal
- Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and his counterparts have come under scrutiny more than once for their controversial comments
- Such assertive diplomacy could come off as ‘bullying’ other nations and undo the hard work China has put into building bilateral ties with neighbours
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Few countries’ diplomats have generated as much controversy in recent months as those from China.
Take the most recent incident where Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian was said to have confronted and aggressively pointed at his host country’s armed forces chief, General Romeo Brawner Jnr, while saying “don’t provoke us”.
Describing Huang’s behaviour as “very hostile”, Philippine Senator JV Ejercito said in an interview with Filipino media on Tuesday that an ambassador should not be “disrespectful” and “rude”, especially to a high-ranking government official.
“Imagine, Huang is bullying our chief of staff … that’s probably another level of disrespect,” Ejercito said, adding that Beijing should recall the envoy.
Some Filipinos have called for the Chinese embassy and all consulates in the Philippines to be shut, while others suggested Manila should stop recognising the one-China principle, which states that Taiwan is part of China.
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