China has criticized a Philippine Senate resolution condemning remarks made by the Chinese Embassy against Philippine government officials, calling the measure a “anti-China“ and “political stunt.”

On Tuesday, Chinese Embassy in Manila spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said Beijing “firmly rejects and strongly condemns” the Senate’s adoption of the resolution, accusing some Philippine legislators of resorting to threats and intimidation against Chinese diplomats.

“They claim they represent public opinion but actually twist facts and mislead the public. The said senate resolution is nothing but a political stunt,” Ji said in a statement.

“They know little about how diplomacy works, yet they dare to undermine the efforts to improve China–Philippines relations by stirring up hatred and confrontation,” he added,

According to Ji, the resolution was driven by "political self-interest" and such actions only harm ordinary citizens.

“The price of their hypocrisy, ignorance, and recklessness is paid by the ordinary people,” he said.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, however, pushed back against the embassy’s remarks, saying the comments appeared to be an attempt to silence the Philippine Senate.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Sotto castigated the Chinese Embassy spokesperson for what he described as disrespectful language toward the Senate, particularly after the adoption of Senate Resolution No. 256, which defends Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

“It seems like the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines wanted to silence this august chamber by calling us hypocrites and ignorant by issuing our stand through this resolution,” Sotto said.

Sotto rejected accusations that the Senate was intimidating Chinese diplomats, noting that it was the embassy spokesperson who continued to issue what he described as disparaging statements.

“He is claiming that we are intimidating Chinese diplomats yet he continues to speak disrespectfully against us and calling the Senate resolution a mere political stunt. I can say the same thing to him — that he knows little about how diplomacy works. Respect begets respect,” Sotto added.

The Senate adopted Resolution No. 256 on Monday following several days of plenary deliberations. The resolution expresses the chamber’s position on issues affecting Philippine sovereignty, particularly in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).