in the South China Sea. / AFP / Ted Aljibe/
(Eagle News)–China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua described as a “fabrication” the communication filed by two former government officials against Chinese President Xi Jinping over the Asian giant’s claims in the South China Sea.
“It’s an action by individuals and we think it’s a kind of political action viciously targeting the Chinese leadership,” Zhao Jianhua said prior to his courtesy call on Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in the Palace.
According to Zhao, “of course, I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
He said “we don’t think it’s the proper action that is based on facts.”
“It’s a fabrication and also the misuse of the mandate of the ICC,” he said.
Even then, he said President Rodrigo Duterte “and the department concerned have expressed clearly to the Chinese side the Philippine government has no role in it.”
Panelo said during their 50-minute meeting, “Ambassador Zhao shares the official position of the Philippines on the possible weaponisation of the ICC as a political tool, in stark contrast to the supposed spirit of the Rome Statute.”
He said they “discussed the International Criminal Court (ICC) where they express the importance of respect for the sovereignty of nations.”
Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario filed the communication for crimes against humanity against Xi two days before the country’s official withdrawal from the ICC.
The Palace has said the filing however “may be a futile exercise” as, among other things, China was not a member of the ICC.
It added the ICC did not cover environmental damage.
