Spat flares up over ‘threat’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will summon Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan to Malacañang to clarify a statement he made that Marcos considered threatening.

Last Thursday, in an interview at a forum in Quezon City, Jing denied that Beijing was causing trouble in the region and blamed Philippine officials for creating tension between the two nations.

“We should feel fortunate that you have a neighbor like China in this region. If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we’ll not use force. We love peace,” Jing said.

In response, President Marcos said he will summon Jing for a one-on-one talk.

“Well, it sounds very much to me like a threat and it is not a very diplomatic statement to make. So we perhaps would like to understand what exactly it is that he meant,” the President said in an interview during the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard in Manila.

“I think that deserves a discussion between the ambassador and myself,” he added.

Separately, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through West Philippine Sea spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva Jr., criticized Jing over his remarks, saying “the business of diplomacy requires tact and restraint to create space necessary for discourse, dialogue, and engagement regardless of the disparity in positions or perspectives.”

“It is hoped that all diplomats accredited to the Philippines take greater care in the language used in public statements so as not to erode mutual trust and confidence further, nor derail the advancement of dialogue and constructive engagement,” the DFA said.

Lost in translation

The Chinese Embassy was quick to defend its envoy, accusing the DFA of “selective quotation and over-interpretation that proves there is still a long way to go in fostering effective communication and dialogue between China and the Philippines.

“Diplomacy must be honest and straightforward to reduce misunderstandings and prevent misjudgments. Ultimately, the fundamental purpose of diplomacy is to resolve differences and disputes and to avoid conflict or even war,” the embassy statement said.

In his roughly one year as China’s envoy to the Philippines, this is the second time Jing will be summoned by Marcos.

He was also called to Malacañang on 20 July following a violent confrontation at Ayungin Shoal involving personnel of the China Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy.

A Filipino sailor suffered contusions after he was struck in the head with a wooden baton by a Chinese coast guardsman.

‘China wants control

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Jing’s statement showed China’s true intention to control the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The ambassador’s remarks came one day after Teodoro labeled Beijing a “regional troublemaker.”

He said Philippine defense officials were studying the statement and rejected the possibility that the ambassador had been misinterpreted.

Embassy hits back

The Chinese Embassy cried foul, stressing that “diplomacy must be honest and straightforward to reduce misunderstandings and prevent misjudgments.”

“China-Philippines relations are currently at an extremely sensitive stage. Certain individuals are actively seeking to undermine normal exchanges and cooperation between the two countries,” it said.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros demanded a formal retraction and apology from Beijing. If none is forthcoming, Hontiveros said Jing must be declared “persona non grata.”

“An ambassador who threatens his host country has crossed a line. His statements are gray zone aggression in diplomatic form, meant to intimidate and coerce while stopping just short of war,” Hontiveros said.

She proposed raising such threats before ASEAN and the United Nations General Assembly, as a threat against one nation concerns all member states that uphold international law.

Also expressing his displeasure at Jing, Senator Erwin Tulfo, vice chairperson of the Senate committee on foreign relations, stressed the Philippines will not bow or be intimidated by any threat coming from China, whether through words or by force.