A Diplomatic BreakUp?

A blogger stirred Facebook when she stated that declaring PERSONA NON GRATA is not a strength.  It is an escalation.

In the world of Philippine political commentary, there is a very specific type of person who thinks that handing a "Persona Non Grata" (PNG) notice to a foreign official is the equivalent of slapping a honey badger in the face.

The moment a diplomat is told, "You’re not invited to the party anymore," the doom-posters emerge from their caves.

 "It’s a reckless escalation!" they scream. 

"The trade routes will collapse! The sky will turn red! Our OFWs will be deported via catapult!"

Let’s take a collective deep breath and look at the reality of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Declaring someone Persona Non Grata isn't "burning bridges." 

It’s more like unfriending that one uncle who keeps making everyone uncomfortable at Christmas dinner.

-The Everyone Is Doing It Defense: The US does it. Japan does it. Even our chill ASEAN neighbors do it. It’s a standard diplomatic tool, like a formal "thank you" note, but instead, it says "thank you for leaving."

-The NoExplanation-Needed Policy: According to Article 9 of the Vienna Convention, a state can declare a diplomat PNG at any time and without having to explain its decision. It’s the ultimate "it’s not me, it’s definitely you."

-The Apocalypse That Wasn't: Despite the frantic Facebook posts, a PNG declaration has never once triggered a "Trade-mageddon" or a sudden "OFW-pocalypse." The world keeps spinning, the cargo ships keep sailing, and the Jollibee stays open.

The most hilarious part of this "reckless escalation" narrative is what people choose to ignore. If declaring a diplomat unwelcome is "reckless," what do we call the current situation in the West Philippine Sea?

If PNG (PersonaNonGrata is a "slap," then China’s actions are a full-blown MMA ground-and-pound. Let's compare the two:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Reckless Persona Non Grata - Handing over a piece of paper

-China's Action in WPS - Ramming and water cannoning supply boats.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Reckless Persona Non Grata - Asking someone to book a flight home.

-China's Action in WPS- Blinding sailors with military-grade lasers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Reckless Persona Non Grata- Following international law (Vienna Convention)

-China's Action in WPS - Rejecting the 2016 Arbitral Ruling

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- Reckless Persona Non Grata - A quiet exit in the airport.

-China'sAction in WPS - Blocking food and medicine to Ayungin Shoal

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-Reckless Persona Non Grata - Asserting sovereignty via ink

-China's Action in WPS - Building military bases on our actual reefs

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Calling a diplomatic tool "reckless" while ignoring a decade of harassment of Filipino fishermen is like complaining that your neighbor is being "aggressive" because they put up a "No Trespassing" sign, while you’re currently in their backyard with a chainsaw cutting down their mango tree.

Claiming that a PNG declaration is the spark that will start a war is not just a reach—it’s an Olympic-level stretch. 

It’s the diplomatic equivalent of thinking that if you break up with your toxic ex, they are legally allowed to burn down your entire neighborhood. Spoiler alert: they aren't, and the international community doesn't work that way either.

Sovereignty isn't a suggestion; it’s a right. And using the tools provided by international law to defend it isn't "reckless"—it’s literally the job description of a functional state. 

So, the next time someone claims a PNG notice is a "death sentence" for our economy, remind them that ink on paper has never sunk a ship, but a water cannon certainly has.