MANILA, Philippines — The diplomatic row between the Philippines and China over recent remarks by Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan has spread beyond the executive branch as the Chinese Embassy challenged lawmakers to declare him “persona non grata” and accused journalists and politicians of exaggerating tensions between the two countries.
On its Facebook page, the embassy on Saturday posted a collage of statements made by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Erwin Tulfo, Representatives Leila de Lima and Perci Cendaña, and Akbayan president Rafaela David—all reacting strongly against Jing’s alleged “threats” against the country.
“Look at the chorus of anti-China politicians in the Philippines. It is consistent with their track records,” the embassy said.
READ: Chinese embassy accuses Filipino reporters, politicians of twisting facts
In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Jing dismissed as “nonsense” a statement by Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., a harsh critic of China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea, that “China alone is the troublemaker in Southeast Asia.”
“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But, no, we will not choose force, and we love peace,” Jing added. He said the region was peaceful and “fortunate” to have a neighbor like China, comparing it to conflict areas like the Middle East, Ukraine and Venezuela.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said Jing made a “veiled threat.”
READ: Chinese Embassy calls for probe into anti-China casket display
President Marcos said he would summon the ambassador as his remarks sounded “like a threat” and “not very diplomatic.”
JV in Mandarin
The lawmakers named by the embassy called on Jing to apologize or leave the country.
READ: DND hits back at Chinese Embassy anew for being ‘evasive,’ ‘deceptive’
Ejercito posted a video on his official Facebook page telling Jing that he was not welcome in the country. “Ambassador Jing Quan, West Philippine Sea is ours! Go home!” Ejercito said in Mandarin.
Pangilinan, also on Facebook, urged Jing to “please easily leave Manila and go back to China.”
“We do not need foreign guests in the form of arrogant, condescending diplomats,” he added.
On Friday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged the government to demand a formal retraction of Jing’s statement and apology from China, otherwise, he should be declared persona non grata if Beijing did not do so.
Gatchalian likewise called on Jing to apologize, describing his remarks as undiplomatic and uncalled for.
Tulfo, vice chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said the Philippines would not back down in the face of threats.
The Chinese Embassy said that “respect is mutual” and that China treated all countries, big and small, as equals “but will never tolerate ill-intentioned remarks, smears or provocations.”
“As representatives of China, the Embassy will firmly safeguard China’s sovereignty, security, and dignity. Anyone who tries to provoke China will be pushed back,” it said.
Challenge to Congress
In a Facebook post on Friday, the Chinese Embassy challenged senators and House members who were seeking to declare Jing persona non grata to “just do it.”
“Otherwise, STOP BLUFFING,” it said.
In another Facebook post on Saturday, the Chinese Embassy said journalists and politicians were twisting facts and exaggerating tensions between Manila and Beijing.
“Some Philippine politicians and reporters have very limited comprehension about facts,” the embassy said. “But they are good at exaggeration, taking things out of context, and creating hype.”
The embassy did not identify any politician, journalist or news organization, nor did it cite specific reports or statements to back its accusations.
According to two maritime security analysts, China’s increasingly combative diplomacy is causing further damage to its relations with the Philippines.
Wolf-warrior diplomacy
Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal said Jing’s remarks, followed by his embassy’s challenge to Filipino lawmakers to declare him persona non grata, had overshadowed his main message that Beijing favored talks to settle disputes.
“This kind of ‘wolf-warrior diplomacy’ is clearly not working and not contributing to achieving the goal of improving Philippine-China relations. Instead, it is contributing to further destroying it,” he told the Inquirer.
Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said Jing undermined his own appeal for dialogue when he underscored China’s military capability as a way to pressure the Philippines into engaging with Beijing.
Ray Powell, director of SeaLight at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, agreed that Jing’s remarks were an implied threat that warranted a formal diplomatic response.
But he cautioned against declaring the ambassador a persona non grata, saying it would only invite retaliation from Beijing.
“Don’t expect an apology, though. Beijing’s diplomats do not apologize,” Powell told the Inquirer.
Batongbacal said statements from the ambassador and his embassy indicated a diplomatic approach increasingly driven by demands for respect based on China’s superior military power rather than efforts to build goodwill.
Powell said Jing’s remarks were a departure from Beijing’s tightly controlled diplomatic messaging.
“This appears to have been an unplanned overstep by the ambassador, which is why the embassy later referred to it as an ‘ambush interview,’” he said. “This was an unscripted moment and Ambassador Jing responded clumsily but revealingly.”
Batongbacal said the embassy’s confrontational posture could reflect Beijing’s assessment that Manila was reluctant to jeopardize efforts to improve bilateral relations.
He cited the President’s earlier statements about a possible “reset” in relations, along with the diplomatic importance of China’s participation in the upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) under Manila’s chairmanship.
Economic pressure
Batongbacal also raised possible economic pressure, such as restrictions on trade in Chinese fertilizer, agricultural products and fuel as potential vulnerabilities that Beijing could exploit.
He said a declaration of persona non grata would convey wider dissatisfaction with the ambassador’s conduct and “more clearly tell Beijing that the ambassador and the embassy at present are not the ones who can effectively manage tensions and improve relations.”
Powell questioned whether the move would achieve anything beyond provoking retaliation.
“What I’d expect instead is for there to be a formal consultation and for both sides to call it ‘constructive’ and wait for the news cycle to turn to something else,” he said.
Powell said the diplomatic controversy should not obscure the larger dispute.
“In the end it’s Beijing’s maritime aggression, not a single unscripted comment, that is the real problem,” Powell said.
Mr. Marcos had earlier rejected proposals to declare Jing persona non grata.
Palawan town did it
In January, Palawan’s Kalayaan municipal council, whose seat of government is on Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, declared Jing persona non grata after the Chinese Embassy criticized Philippine officials, including Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela.
Kalayaan declared Jing’s predecessor, Huang Xilian, persona non grata over an Aug. 5, 2023, water cannon attack against a Philippine vessel in the West Philippine Sea.
In 2003, the Philippines expelled an Iraqi diplomat for his alleged involvement in a bombing staged by the Abu Sayyaf group in Zamboanga City. Two other Iraqi diplomats were also later expelled for alleged espionage. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
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