SEN. Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, is set to hold a dialogue on Monday with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan amid heightened tensions between Filipino lawmakers and the Chinese Embassy in Manila. Tulfo confirmed the scheduled meeting in a text message to reporters on Friday, saying the dialogue was arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The senator declined to provide further details, including the venue and the expected attendees. His office likewise did not disclose the agenda of the discussion. In a separate press briefing on Friday, Foreign Affairs spokesman for maritime affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. welcomed the Senate’s openness to engage the Chinese embassy in dialogue. “We believe that the Senate is already making direct representations with the embassy in Manila to find a mutually convenient date in that dialogue. The DFA supports that openness expressed by the Senate to hold this meeting with the Chinese embassy,” Villanueva said. He added that the DFA stands ready to assist should the Senate seek its support in facilitating the talks. Resolution condemns embassy remarks The planned dialogue follows the filing of Senate Resolution (SR) 256, signed by 15 senators across the political spectrum, expressing the chamber’s sense in condemning recent public statements issued by the Chinese embassy. The resolution criticized remarks by an embassy official aimed at Philippine lawmakers and institutions over their positions defending national sovereignty and maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea. Lawmakers said the language used in the statements departed from “the restraint, courtesy, and responsibility expected of diplomatic communications” and ran counter to “the principles of mutual respect and non-interference” among states. The Senate emphasized that while diplomatic dialogue remains essential, public statements perceived as attacks against elected officials undermine bilateral relations and constructive engagement. Diplomatic protest filed The diplomatic friction escalated further after the Chinese embassy filed a protest against Jay Tarriela, spokesman of the Philippine Coast Guard, on West Philippine Sea issues. The protest stemmed from Tarriela’s social media post showing him in front of a flatscreen television displaying an image collage that appeared to include an AI-generated depiction of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The embassy alleged that the post smeared the dignity of the Chinese leader. The developments come amid ongoing maritime disputes between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Observers believe that Monday’s meeting between Tulfo and Jing could serve as an opportunity to ease tensions and clarify positions, although both parties have not yet publicly outlined specific objectives for the dialogue.