Erwin Tulfo now calls for ceasefire in 'word war' with China

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Senator Erwin Tulfo has softened his stance amid rising tensions between Philippine and Chinese officials, calling for a temporary “ceasefire” in what he described as an ongoing “word war” between the two sides.

This comes just days after Tulfo delivered a strongly worded statement urging Chinese diplomats to leave the country. Speaking on Wednesday, the senator said both parties should dial down their rhetoric to give space for negotiations on the proposed Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

Tulfo stressed that calmer discourse would help move discussions forward, especially as talks on the COC are still underway. He suggested that a pause in verbal exchanges could allow dialogue and negotiations to proceed more smoothly while the framework is being finalized.

Recently appointed as chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Tulfo said he met with Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro to receive updates on the status of the negotiations. According to Tulfo, progress on the Code of Conduct has slowed, largely due to the continued exchange of sharp statements from both sides.

He noted that the target timeline for completing the COC is within the next ten months, but emphasized that sustained diplomatic engagement is necessary to achieve that goal.

Tulfo also said his office remains open to communication with the Chinese Embassy. He added that, based on information from the DFA, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan has likewise expressed openness to dialogue.

Meanwhile, a Senate resolution condemning recent public statements made by the Chinese Embassy against the Philippine government has already been filed. Tulfo clarified that the measure can no longer be withdrawn, explaining that the Senate has the authority to act independently on such matters.