DFA summons China envoy over threat

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday summoned China’s top diplomat to Manila to protest his contentious remark about Beijing’s ability to “easily win” a conflict with the Philippines by “use of force,” warning that the Philippines will not hesitate to pursue “diplomatic action” if heated exchanges with its officials persist.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan amid mounting criticism of his 15 October statement, which drew the ire of Philippine lawmakers and was denounced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as “undiplomatic.”

Jing has since hit back at Philippine lawmakers calling for his immediate expulsion, warning that China could retaliate by declaring them persona non grata in Beijing, effectively barring them from entering the country.

Lazaro reportedly told Jing that his statements were “provocative and unacceptable,” stressing that diplomats should not intimidate and publicly taunt key officials of his host country.

The DFA also stressed that “such language aggravates an already sensitive bilateral atmosphere and undermines the shared effort” of the Philippines and China to build mutual understanding and cooperation.

“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 statement read.

Meanwhile, Senator Erwin Tulfo, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, penned a resolution urging the DFA to demand that China recall Jing and declare him persona non grata.

Tulfo stressed that diplomats must exercise restraint and use measured, conciliatory language to avoid escalating tensions with their host country.

Jing instead aggravated the situation by threatening retaliation by China if the Philippines expelled him.

“If you’re a diplomat, you have to tone down your statements. You should engage in diplomacy instead of using language that sounds like taunting, saying “we can defeat you,” Tulfo said in an interview prior to his filing of Senate Resolution 739.

“He should clarify his statement like, ‘Well, that’s not what I meant. What I meant was that we are ready to talk.’ Instead, he doubled down and said, ‘Go ahead and declare me persona non grata. Let’s see, and you’ll get banned in China in return,” Tufo said.