Palace rejects ‘troublemaker’ tag from China

Malacañang rejected suggestions that the Philippines’ diplomatic stance in the South China Sea shows weakness, while also pushing back against China’s claim that Manila is acting as a “disruptor” in the region.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after Sen. Erwin Tulfo said in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that the Philippines was “allowing” itself to be bullied in the name of diplomacy, and that “diplomacy without deterrence is weakness.”

In a press briefing, Castro stressed that the Marcos administration remains firm in its rule-based approach, countering criticism from some lawmakers that diplomacy without deterrence makes the country vulnerable.

“Ang katapangan ay hindi nadadaan sa buntalan (Courage is not proven through fistfights),” she said on Friday, Aug. 29.

“Ang pagiging diplomatic ay hindi nagpapakita ng kahinaan (Being diplomatic does not show weakness),” she added.