MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s remarks appeared to convey a “thinly veiled threat of the use of force,” after the envoy said China could easily win a military conflict with the Philippines but would not resort to force.
In a statement shared by DFA maritime affairs spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva Jr., the department called Jing’s language regrettable and urged diplomats accredited to the Philippines to exercise greater care in their public statements.
“It is regrettable that Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan today had a poor choice of words that would seem to convey a thinly veiled threat of the use of force, which is hardly helpful in the context of the complicated bilateral ties between the Philippines and China,” the DFA said.
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Jing made the remarks to reporters on the sidelines of the second Diliman Dialogues organized by the Philippines-China Studies Center of Diliman College in Quezon City.
“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not use force. You know, we love peace,” he said.
The DFA said diplomacy required “tact and restraint” to preserve room for dialogue and engagement despite differences in positions.
“It is hoped that all diplomats accredited to the Philippines take greater care in the language used in public statements so as not to further erode mutual trust and confidence, nor derail the advancement of dialogue and constructive engagement,” it added.
Jing’s remarks came amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Manila has accused Chinese forces of increasingly aggressive actions against Philippine government and fishing vessels.
The envoy also warned that the Philippines faced greater risks of confrontation if it did not restore direct military communications with China, which Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said had been suspended over security concerns.
“It’s not China asking the Philippines to talk, to have the military-to-military communication. If you don’t want to talk with us, fine, but you lose,” Jing said. “You face more risks of confrontation and conflict.”
Teodoro on Wednesday cited Beijing’s abuse of the channels and distortion of narratives as reasons for maintaining the suspension. He said communication remained open through the DFA and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines backed his position, saying dialogue required mutual trust, sincerity and respect for international law.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela separately called Jing’s remarks a “direct threat,” rejecting the envoy’s assurance that China loved peace.
“A guest who reminds his host that he could easily beat him up, but has graciously decided not to, is not describing friendship. He is threatening the very country that received him and asking us to be grateful for it,” Tarriela said Thursday.
Jing, meanwhile, urged Manila to continue dialogue and expand trade, investment and visits despite the maritime dispute.
“Calm down and talk, more talk, more communication. Not always take some very harsh, tough measures against each other,” he said. /cb
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