China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan is ready to leave Manila, but only if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tells him to do so, the Chinese Embassy said, amid a heated exchange between its diplomats and Philippine lawmakers.

Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said only Marcos, as head of state, has the authority to expel Jing. He added that if such notice were issued, other Chinese diplomats, including himself, would also leave.

“If he were to receive such notice from President Marcos, he would depart immediately. But he would do so with immense pride and honor, knowing that through his actions, he has fulfilled the firm commitment a Chinese diplomat makes to his country,” the statement read.

Ji said their potential departure could lead to the embassy’s closure but stressed they would continue to “push back slanders and smears against China through various channels.”

“This is the most basic duty of Chinese diplomats. If a diplomat cannot even do that, then what is the point of having diplomats at all?” he said.

The statement came after Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed declaring Jing persona non grata over his criticism of Philippine senators who condemned China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea. 

In Kalayaan, Palawan, local officials declared Jing persona non grata on Thursday.

Earlier, 15 senators signed a resolution denouncing the Chinese Embassy’s remarks against lawmakers critical of Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea, which overlaps with the West Philippine Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said declaring a diplomat persona non grata is an option of last resort, warning of “tremendous implications,” including possible reciprocal action. It said such a step should be taken only when diplomatic relations have seriously fractured.

Tensions escalated after China protested statements by Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, including a social media post featuring a caricature of Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

The embassy called the post a “blatant political provocation” that crossed a “red line.” Tarriela countered that China was diverting attention from its actions in the West Philippine Sea.

Former National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos cautioned against casually using the term persona non grata, saying it carries serious diplomatic consequences. 

She said the designation applies only to diplomats and formally declares them unwelcome. 

Carlos warned that such a move could escalate tensions and affect broader regional relationships, stressing that decisions of this nature require careful assessment of national strategy.