Apology can't be forced, Palace says in wake of Chinese envoy's remarks

It's difficult to force any one to apologize.

Malacañang said this on Tuesday in the wake of Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan's remarks that China would easily win if it used force in the West Philippine Sea, words that Philippine officials took as a threat amid the tensions in the region.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the envoy should apologize.

Asked about Tarriela’s comment, Castro said Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro has already spoken to Jing Quan.

“Ang pagsasalita ng ‘sorry, I’m sorry’ hindi ito pinupuwersa, ito ay nanggagaling sa puso. So, tingnan natin na lang po natin kung ano ang magiging usapan ng representante ng China at ng ating representative sa katauhan po ni Secretary Tess Lazaro,” Castro said.

(Saying “sorry, I’m sorry’ cannot be forced, this comes from the heart. So we need to see how negotiations go with the Chinese representative and our representative Secretary Tess Lazaro.)

Castro said to let the talks between the two sides continue.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has previously aired his concern over Jing Quan’s remarks, saying that it warranted a conversation between the two of them.

Asked if this discussion between Marcos and Quan will still push through, Castro said there was no information on the matter yet.

On Monday, Lazaro met with Jing Quan to convey the Philippines’ objection to his remarks, saying that such language aggravated the bilateral atmosphere and undermined both China and the Philippines’ efforts to build understanding.

"It is not the place of a foreign mission to publicly criticize or taunt Philippine officials and legislators who are 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," the DFA said in a statement.

The relationship between China and the Philippines has grown tense over years of a maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea.

Despite the Philippines winning its case over the flashpoint waters in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, China has continued to disregard the ruling and claim most of the West Philippine Sea for itself. —NB, GMA News