Solon warns against expelling Chinese envoy over threat remarks

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada warned Sunday against declaring Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata, arguing that expelling Beijing’s top diplomat would spark serious diplomatic consequences for the Philippines despite widespread outrage over the envoy’s recent remarks.

Estrada’s position contrasts with a growing chorus of lawmakers urging the government to expel Jing after the diplomat remarked on China’s ability to “easily win” a conflict with the Philippines through force, while adding that Beijing still prefers peace.

Estrada acknowledged that the envoy’s comments were unconstructive, but maintained that Manila should pursue formal diplomatic protests rather than shutting down lines of communication amid ongoing maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

“While I share the concern and indignation his words have stirred, we must protest strongly and demand respect, without closing the doors to dialogue,” Estrada said. “Hasty actions against the Chinese envoy’s statements will not lead to any good outcome.”

The detained senator stressed that the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling at The Hague already provides Manila with the legal foundation for its territorial claims, making diplomatic posturing unnecessary.

“Our firmness is best shown not by raising our voices, but by standing steadfastly on the law, on the facts, and on our rights,” Estrada said. “Strength does not determine who owns the West Philippine Sea, but the law and the facts do, and these are clearly on our side.”

Jing’s remarks drew sharp criticism across the political spectrum as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed plans to summon the ambassador, while several legislators called for his immediate expulsion.

To recall, Senator JV Ejercito supported declaring Jing persona non grata, characterizing his statements as “very rude, very hostile and very undiplomatic.” Ejercito said the Senate is considering a formal resolution condemning the ambassador’s rhetoric.

“He is adding fuel to the fire,” Ejercito said in a radio interview. “It would be better to replace him, because this Chinese ambassador belongs to a group whose character involves instigating trouble.”

The Chinese Embassy dismissed calls for Jing’s expulsion over the weekend, challenging Philippine lawmakers to proceed while accusing Ejercito of grandstanding for headlines.

Embassy officials also claimed Philippine representatives engaged in “selective quotation and overinterpretation” of the ambassador’s remarks.

The Department of Foreign Affairs reprimanded Jing for what it described as a “thinly veiled threat” and a “poor choice of words,” reminding foreign diplomats to exercise tact and restraint.

Chester Cabalza, founding president of the Manila-based security think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, described Jing’s stance as typical of Beijing’s aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomacy.

Cabalza added, however, that routinely summoning the ambassador has proven largely ineffective in altering Beijing’s maritime strategy.

The diplomatic spat follows recent remarks by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who labeled China a regional “troublemaker” in response to statements from Beijing’s foreign ministry.