Philippines-China South China Sea Diplomatic Spat

The Philippine foreign ministry urged the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a 'constructive' tone amidst an escalating war of words. This follows a resolution by the Philippines===Senate of the Philippines condemning the Chinese Embassy in Manila's statements, which criticized Philippine officials for defending the country's sovereignty in the South China Sea. The Chinese Embassy in Manila rejected the resolution as a 'political stunt'. The Philippines' Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, called for de-escalation, emphasizing that the relationship between the Philippines and China should not be solely defined by the maritime dispute. Both the Philippines and China have accused each other of aggressive actions in the disputed waters.