Philippines rebukes officials over public comments about China

MANILA: The Philippines’ foreign ministry issued a rare rebuke to government officials and agencies on Sunday over public comments about China, stressing the need for a unified voice as the country heads into a key regional summit.

The uniformed services of the Philippines have been engaged in a long-running war of words with the Chinese government over the South China Sea, a busy waterway that Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that its position has no legal basis.

Multiple senators also called last month for Beijing’s ambassador to be declared persona non grata after he suggested China could “easily win” any confrontation with the Philippines.