China says can 'easily win' confrontation with Philippines

Beijing's ambassador to Manila asserted that China could easily win a conflict with the Philippines, though the country would never resort to force. The Philippines' defence chief described China as a regional troublemaker, while China labeled the label as nonsense and accused the Philippines of harassing Chinese personnel. Both nations have engaged in repeated confrontations, some resulting in collisions and injuries, despite China's claims to most of the South China Sea without a legal basis.

The Chinese embassy defended Jing's comments, emphasizing their friendship with the Philippines, while the Philippine foreign ministry criticized the ambassador's choice of words as a potential threat.