By Francessca S. Abalos, Pexcel John Bacon and Erika Mae P. Sinaking, Reporter
SENATORS and congressmen on Tuesday urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to consider expelling Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan over his remarks about China’s ability to use force against the Philippines, while Malacañang said any apology from the envoy should be voluntary.
Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel filed a resolution urging Mr. Marcos to declare Mr. Jing persona non grata or ask Beijing to recall him, following a similar measure filed by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo.
Several congressmen also called for the ambassador’s expulsion, citing his remarks and the Chinese Embassy’s responses to Filipino officials.
“An apology should not be forced,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing. “It should come from the heart,” she added, noting that the Palace would leave the matter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro.
Ms. Lazaro summoned Mr. Jing on Monday to convey Manila’s “serious concern and strong objection” to his Oct. 15 remarks. Mr. Marcos had described the comments as sounding like a threat and said they were undiplomatic.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila said the senators and congressmen who sought Mr. Jing’s expulsion are no longer welcome in China. “Since you don’t welcome us, we don’t welcome you, either,” it said in a Facebook post.
On Sunday, the embassy said Filipino officials will be barred from entering China if they declared Mr. Jing persona non grata.
“If we want to use force, we may easily win,” Mr. Jing told reporters when asked about Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.’s description of China as a regional “troublemaker.” “But no, we will not use force.”
The embassy earlier said Mr. Jing was referring to China’s military capabilities, not an intention to use force. It also accused Philippine officials of making defamatory remarks against China and said mutual respect required the Philippines to respect Beijing’s core interests, including Taiwan.
Ms. Hontiveros in Senate Resolution No. 746 said the Chinese government’s words had failed to align with its actions, citing what it described as escalating harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.
She cited recent incidents, including the Philippine Coast Guard’s Oct. 1 deployment of its biggest vessel and an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research ship operating off northern Batanes, where a Chinese Coast Guard vessel also moved in.
It also cited the deployment of four Chinese fishing boats near Lawak Island on Oct. 15, which the resolution said occurred without Philippine authorization. She said such actions violated the 2016 arbitral ruling on China’s maritime claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
She acknowledged the President’s constitutional authority over foreign affairs but said the Senate wanted to express its disapproval of the envoy’s conduct and inform the President’s decision-making.
The measure followed Mr. Tulfo’s Senate Resolution No. 739, making Ms. Hontiveros the second senator to seek action against Mr. Jing.
HOUSE MAKES SIMILAR CALL
At the House of Representatives, Lanao del Sur Rep. Ziaur-Rahman “Zia” A. Adiong, Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-ao, Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony G. Santos, Albay Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman and Party-list Reps. Percival “Perci” V. Cendaña, Jose Manuel Tadeo I. Diokno, Haima “Dadah” Kiram Ismula, Karl Josef F. Legazpi and Leila Norma M. de Lima urged Mr. Marcos to consider expelling the ambassador.
“The Philippines must not be cowed into silence in the face of such arrogance,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. They also criticized the embassy’s challenge for Manila to declare Mr. Jing persona non grata, saying its language did little to encourage dialogue.
“The ambassador has clearly overstayed his welcome,” they said, calling on Mr. Marcos to stand firm against what they described as further Chinese aggression.
Other lawmakers urged caution. Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon said the government could consider expelling lower-ranking Chinese diplomats while leaving the decision on Mr. Jing to the President.
“A threat is a threat,” Mr. Ridon said at a press briefing, arguing that the embassy could not decide for the Philippines whether the ambassador’s remarks amounted to intimidation. He cited the President’s preference for diplomacy but said the government had other options.
Batangas Rep. Gerville R. Luistro called for a firm response while stressing the need to resolve the dispute peacefully. Foreign envoys, she said, should respect the Philippines and its sovereignty.
Caloocan City Rep. Edgar “Egay” R. Erice urged Mr. Marcos to personally handle the dispute, warning that confrontational rhetoric could escalate tensions and harm the economy. He cited potential effects on trade, investment, tourism and business activity, particularly as the country faces weak economic growth, rising debt and high living costs.
“We are dealing with China, one of the world’s most powerful countries,” he said. “We cannot afford to aggravate tensions through unnecessary insults and diplomatic quarrels without a clear strategic objective.”
He urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to develop a long-term China policy under the President’s direction that balances national security, sovereign rights, economic cooperation and diplomatic engagement.
Meanwhile, Ms. Castro said the Palace had not received an update on the outcome of Ms. Lazaro’s meeting with Mr. Jing. She also declined to confirm whether Mr. Marcos would separately meet with the ambassador, as the President had previously said the remarks warranted a discussion.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea also condemned recurring activities by Chinese vessels, including unauthorized fishing, reported waste dumping near Kota Island and suspected marine scientific research off Batanes without Philippine consent.
In a Facebook post on Monday, it said the activities violated the Philippines’ maritime rights under international law and urged Beijing to comply with the 2016 arbitral ruling.