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Philippines rebukes Chinese envoy over 'use of force' remark; Marcos: 'sounds very much like a threat'
After Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said China would 'easily win' if it chose force, the Philippine foreign ministry called it a 'poor choice of words' conveying a 'thinly veiled threat'; President Marcos Jr said on Oct 16 it 'sounds very much like a threat', while Beijing's embassy accused Manila of 'selective quotation'.
Why it matters
This is a rare public rebuke by the Philippine foreign ministry of China's ambassador in Manila. Jing Quan's remarks touch on already strained bilateral ties over the South China Sea, and President Marcos personally framing them as a threat means the diplomatic spat is unlikely to fade quickly.
What happened
Speaking to reporters on Oct 15 on the sidelines of the second Diliman Dialogues at Diliman College in Quezon City, Jing was asked for his reaction to the Philippine defence secretary calling China a regional 'troublemaker'. Jing pushed back, saying: 'If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not use force. You know, we love peace.'
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement late on Oct 15, saying Ambassador Jing Quan had made a 'poor choice of words' that conveyed 'a thinly veiled threat of the use of force', which was 'hardly helpful' given the 'complicated bilateral ties'. Diplomacy requires 'tact and restraint', the DFA said, so as not to further erode mutual trust.
Marcos weighs in
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Oct 16 that Jing's remark 'sounds very much like a threat and not a diplomatic statement to be made'. It 'deserves a discussion between the ambassador and myself', he said, to clarify what the envoy meant.
Beijing's response
The Chinese embassy in Manila accused the Philippine side of 'selective quotation and overinterpretation', saying Jing's remarks had been twisted, and that bilateral relations were at an 'extremely sensitive stage'. China's foreign ministry said Beijing's position on improving relations with Manila is clear and it hopes the Philippine side will understand it 'accurately and comprehensively'.
Background
The Philippines and China have sparred for years over reefs and islands in the South China Sea within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, with their coast guards squaring off repeatedly. The Philippines is a US defence ally, and the war of words over the South China Sea has been escalating.
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