The Philippine foreign ministry summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan on Oct. 19 over remarks it read as a threat of force. China's foreign ministry said better ties serve both sides' interests but firmly opposed what it called malicious hyping of China-related issues by some individuals.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said on Oct. 19 that Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro summoned Ambassador Jing Quan and conveyed ‘serious concern and strong opposition.’ United Daily News' economic arm and Tencent News reported the move, which centers on remarks the ambassador made the previous week.
광고 문의 · 300×250The trigger was Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.'s Oct. 14 description of China as a regional troublemaker. According to Molihua News, Jing responded on Oct. 15 on the sidelines of the second ‘Dilliman Dialogue’ in Manila, saying that if China wanted to use force it could probably win easily, but that China loves peace and would not do so.
The Philippine position
The DFA first issued a statement on the night of Oct. 15 expressing regret over the ambassador's wording. At the Oct. 19 meeting it called the remarks provocative, unacceptable and carrying a threat of force. It said foreign missions should not publicly criticize or mock Philippine officials and lawmakers doing their jobs, that sensitive issues belong in established diplomatic channels, that communication on non-sensitive matters stays open, and that it reserves the right to take further diplomatic action.
In the Senate the tone is firmer. Molihua News reported that Sen. Erwin Tulfo, vice chair of the foreign relations committee, filed a resolution urging the DFA to demand the ambassador's recall and to declare him persona non grata. Sen. JV Ejercito said the Senate is most likely to take up a resolution when it resumes on Nov. 9. Declaring a diplomat persona non grata, however, is a presidential prerogative, so a Senate resolution would not take effect on its own.
The Chinese position
Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at the Oct. 19 regular briefing that improving and developing China-Philippines relations serves the common interests of both sides. She added that China firmly opposes certain Philippine individuals maliciously hyping China-related issues and damaging bilateral ties, and that Manila should effectively restrain the irresponsible words and deeds of some politicians.
Molihua News also described two posts by the Chinese embassy on Oct. 18. One argued that if the ambassador were declared persona non grata, more Philippine officials could be barred from entering China, since diplomacy rests on reciprocity. The other said China wants better ties and manages differences through dialogue. The embassy has also said the ambassador's remarks were selectively quoted and over-interpreted.
What happens next hinges on President Marcos. An official response from him or the Palace to this episode has not been confirmed. In January, however, the Palace spokesperson called persona non grata status a last resort when relations are badly strained, and the DFA said it preferred dialogue to public confrontation. The Senate also passed Resolution No. 256 in February condemning earlier embassy statements, so the exchange is likely to continue.
