MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may take the same route as Canada in expelling Chinese diplomats if allegations of foreign interference in domestic affairs—particularly the upcoming midterm elections—are proven.

Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino raised the possibility as the Senate inquiry into alleged Chinese meddling in the country’s internal affairs continues. Tolentino is leading the investigation as chair of the Senate Committee on Admiralty and Maritime Zones.

“I look forward to seeing the day when we will be expelling some Chinese diplomats because of this incident,” Tolentino said in a media interview.

He pointed to the precedent set by Canada in 2023, when Ottawa expelled ranking Chinese diplomats over alleged interference in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections. A 194-page parliamentary report reportedly detailed Chinese efforts to undermine the reelection of a lawmaker critical of Beijing’s policies.

“There’s a similar instance where China meddled with the elections in Canada, which produced a 194-page report coming from the Parliament. That was during the 2019 and 2021 elections,” Tolentino said.

“These are classified documents coming from the Canadian intelligence service, it would show that [China] funded [the electoral bids] of several candidates, and it led to the expulsion of several Chinese diplomatic officers based in Canada because of this spying activity and meddling with the elections,” he said.

“So hindi lang po ito sa atin. Nangyari sa Canada, sa Australia, at New Zealand. These are advanced countries with advanced counterintelligence equipment,” he said.

Tolentino has previously revealed documents suggesting the Chinese Embassy in Manila contracted Makati-based InfinitUs Marketing Solutions to promote pro-China narratives online amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea. 

He also disclosed a check worth nearly P1 million allegedly issued to the firm as initial payment.

Despite the exposé, he said Chinese officials have yet to directly dispute the documents or the contract.

“What has been issued so far is a blanket statement from China’s foreign ministry. But no one has come out to claim that the documents I showed are fake,” he said.

“Ang tanong, mayroon ba kayong troll farm? Sinagot ba? Hindi. Sa inyo ba ‘yung submersible drones? Sinagot ba? Hindi,” he continued. “Ang sagot lang nila: ‘Hindi namin maintindihan kung ano yung sinasabi ng isang senador na ginugulo lang ang ating relasyon…dahil nalalapit na ang eleksyon.’”

“We are not just building a case; we are proving a case that has been ongoing for the last several years—despite China’s claims of neighborliness and friendliness,” Tolentino said.

He urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to summon Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to formally respond to the allegations.

“Let’s have some self-respect. How can other countries respect us if we do not respect ourselves?” he said.