By Francessca S. Abalos and Pexcel John Bacon
THE Philippines formally objected to Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s remarks that Beijing could easily win a military confrontation but preferred peace, as Manila and Beijing exchanged sharp statements over the South China Sea and calls to declare the envoy persona non grata.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro conveyed the objection to Mr. Jing, saying his comments were provocative and undermined efforts to build mutual trust and cooperation, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Monday.
“If we want to use force, we may easily win,” Mr. Jing told reporters on Oct. 19 on the sidelines of an event at Diliman College. “But no, we will not use force. You know, we love peace.”
Ms. Lazaro reminded the Chinese envoy that foreign missions should not publicly criticize or taunt Philippine officials for acting within their mandates.
“As a democracy, the Philippines values freedom of expression and a plurality of voices, and it will not accept attempts by a foreign envoy to intimidate those who exercise them,” she said.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Saturday accused politicians and journalists of having “very limited comprehension about facts” and sensationalizing Mr. Jing’s remarks. Its Facebook statement did not identify specific publications or politicians.
Senator Erwin T. Tulfo defended lawmakers’ right to criticize the ambassador, saying they were exercising their freedom of expression. “What is the point of becoming a lawmaker if you will just be silent?” he told reporters.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines also called on the embassy to respect the press, saying constructive engagement “requires respect for its role,” even when reporting is “uncomfortable or unwelcome.”
Mr. Tulfo on Monday filed Senate Resolution No. 739, expressing concern over Mr. Jing’s remarks and urging the DFA to declare him persona non grata. Senators Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, Francis Pancratius N. Pangilinan and Joseph Victor G. Ejercito separately called over the weekend for the ambassador to be replaced and declared persona non grata.
The Chinese Embassy had challenged lawmakers to “just do it (declare Mr. Jing persona non grata)” and “stop bluffing.”
“He is the one who said [we should], but it would be better, I suppose, if he took the initiative, right?” Mr. Tulfo asked. “Why wait for [a declaration of] persona non grata? Then just go home.”
Defense Secretary Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro, Jr. said his position on the dispute remained consistent with that of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Beijing bears responsibility for easing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, he added.
“We don’t enter their territory,” he told reporters. “Do we enter their EEZ (exclusive economic zone)? No way… So it is on them, the burden is not on us.”
Ms. Lazaro also reaffirmed Manila’s position on key issues and said the DFA would take further diplomatic action against Mr. Jing if necessary.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila said Mr. Jing had lodged a formal protest with Ms. Lazaro over what it called “smear and slander” by Philippine officials and politicians.
In a Facebook post, the embassy said Mr. Jing’s remarks about China’s military capabilities were intended to stress Beijing’s preference for peaceful relations and its lack of intention to use force, while warning Manila against provocations over maritime disputes.
The embassy also accused Philippine officials of undermining bilateral ties through public criticism of China and said mutual respect should work both ways.
“We urge the Philippine side to earnestly respect China’s core interests and concerns, take necessary measures immediately to restrain those anti-China politicians and ill-intentioned forces from dragging our bilateral relations into the dangerous situation of confrontation,” it added.
HOPE NOT LOST
Malacañang, meanwhile, said it remained hopeful that relations with China would improve despite the escalating tensions.
“The government has not lost hope that the relationship between China and the Philippines will become good,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told reporters in Filipino. She said Mr. Marcos did not want disagreements or misunderstandings to further strain bilateral ties.
Ms. Castro said the administration continued to prioritize diplomacy while defending Philippine rights, territory and national interests. She added that relations remained in good standing from the President’s perspective.
“It remains good in the eyes of the President, in the eyes of the administration,” she said.
The Palace left any decision on declaring Mr. Jing persona non grata to the DFA. Ms. Castro said Mr. Marcos did not favor such a move and preferred continued diplomatic engagement.
“We know the President’s perspective,” she said. “He would not want this kind of declaration to happen.”
There were no announced changes to Mr. Marcos’ planned visit to China or the expected visit of Chinese leaders to the Philippines for meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Ms. Castro said.
She declined to confirm whether Mr. Marcos would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Ms. Castro said the government would continue to defend Philippine rights and interests in the West Philippine Sea without aggression.
Asked whether the Palace would support legislation penalizing Filipinos who promote narratives favoring China, Ms. Castro said its position would depend on the proposed law’s provisions and implications for national security.
The palace also reiterated Mr. Marcos’ call for Filipinos to unite in defending national interests, particularly the country’s rights in the South China Sea. Ms. Castro said the President respects differing views but thinks Filipinos should stand together when sovereignty and territorial interests were at stake.
She declined to speculate on the outcome of a possible meeting between Mr. Marcos and Mr. Jing, saying she did not want to preempt the President. The administration’s diplomatic response would depend on how tensions develop, she added.