MANILA (Bloomberg): The Philippines said its top diplomat summoned China’s envoy to protest his remarks on the use of force amid their maritime dispute in the South China Sea.
Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on Monday called in Ambassador Jing Quan to express "strong objection” to his remarks last week that "conveyed a threat of the use of force,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Lazaro said Jing’s statement was "provocative and unacceptable” and aggravates an already sensitive bilateral atmosphere, it added.
The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jing last week told reporters that if Beijing wanted to use force in a conflict with Manila, "we may easily win.” He added: "But no, we will not use force. We love peace.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the envoy’s remarks sounded "like a threat and it’s not a very diplomatic statement to be made.”
Some Philippine senators have considered declaring Jing persona non grata.
On Sunday, the Chinese embassy in Manila dared Philippine lawmakers to make the declaration, but warned of reciprocal action. "We will not welcome them to China,” the embassy said in a post on X.
The Philippines’ foreign affairs department on Monday rebuked the embassy: "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,” it added.
Relations between the Philippines and China have deteriorated in recent years as Manila bolstered its military alliance with the US to assert its claims in the South China Sea. Philippine and Chinese coast guard vessels have clashed in disputed waters.
Marcos will protect Manila’s rights and interests in what it calls the West Philippine Sea "in a diplomatic matter,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro told a briefing on Monday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it will keep open lines of communication with China, Manila’s top trading partner, and work to stabilize bilateral relations, especially in "non-sensitive areas.” --With assistance from Neil Jerome Morales. -- ©2026 Bloomberg L.P.
