National Security Advisor Filipino, Eduardo Año, requested this Friday Expulsion of Chinese diplomats For spreading false and tendentious information, in a major and strong escalation Territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

Año said in a statement that the Chinese embassy in Manila coordinated “Repeated actions to spread misinformation” With the aim of sowing division, division and division. These actions “should not go unpunished and without serious penalties.”claimed.

In his statements, the official was referring to news published this week about the alleged leak of… A phone call between a Chinese diplomat and a Filipino admiral to discuss the dispute over the South China Seawhich contains a copy in which it was discovered For the Admiral to accept concessions from China.

According to the text you published Manila TimesThe admiral accepted China's proposal on the “new model” to be used by the Philippines Fewer ships In resupply operations for Marines stationed aboard a battleship stranded aboard the disputed Thomas Shoal II, and Beijing will be notified of the missions in advance.

Reuters He did not listen to the reported phone conversation and was unable to verify the contents of the published text. According to the report, the conversation took place in January The text was provided by a “senior Chinese official”.whose name has not been revealed.

For his part, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian described the year 2018 Instigators He said Chinese diplomats in the Philippines should be allowed to do their work.

“China formally requests the Philippine side to do so Effectively protect the normal performance of its functions “On the part of Chinese diplomatic personnel, they should stop aggression and provocation, and avoid denying the facts,” he commented at a press conference in Beijing.

The office of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the agency's requests for comment. Reuters.

The two countries have become embroiled in a series of heated tensions Confrontations During the past year in Disputed areas in the South China SeaAt a time when the Philippines is intensifying its activities in waters occupied by the huge Chinese Coast Guard.

As of this Friday, the United States and the Philippines have completed two weeks of joint military training in which 11,000 American soldiers and 5,000 local soldiers have participated. At the end of it, it was announced that the joint exercises next year would include “a large-scale battle simulation.”

China accused the Philippines Invade And betrayalWhile Manila criticized Beijing for what it considers Policy of aggression and dangerous maneuvers inside of Exclusive economic zone.

The expulsion of the diplomats could worsen a dispute that has so far been characterized by heated arguments, diplomatic protests and the firing of water cannons at Philippine ships at two disputed sandbars, the nearest of which is more than 850 kilometers from mainland China.

(Information from Reuters)