The Chinese Embassy in Manila has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to act more responsibly in its statements to prevent further tensions between the Philippines and China.
The appeal followed the DFA’s criticism of Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s remarks regarding China’s possible use of force against the Philippines.
In a statement on October 16, the embassy accused the DFA of selectively quoting and overinterpreting the ambassador’s remarks.
The Chinese Embassy stressed that diplomacy should be honest and clear to prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to conflict.
It also described bilateral relations as being at a sensitive stage, claiming that certain individuals were attempting to undermine normal exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
The DFA had earlier expressed concern that Jing’s remarks could be interpreted as a threat to use force, emphasizing that foreign diplomats should exercise caution and restraint in their public statements to maintain trust and allow room for dialogue.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he wants to speak with Jing to clarify the ambassador’s remarks, which he described as sounding like a threat and being “not very diplomatic.”
Marcos said he wanted to understand what Jing meant when he stated that China could easily win a military conflict against the Philippines if it chose to use force.
The President said the remarks warranted a discussion between him and the Chinese ambassador, although he did not explicitly say whether he would summon Jing.
