Envoy says China could ‘easily win’ conflict as Manila claims it is ‘thinly veiled threat’

Ambassador Jing Quan of the Chinese embassy to the Philippines claimed that Beijing could "easily win" any conflict in the region if it decided to use military force, but reiterated that China preferred peaceful resolutions, statements that have been met with criticism in Manila. The remark was made as tensions over the disputed Scarborough Shoal rose in the South China Sea, with China repeatedly preventing Philippine aircraft from entering the area, most recently two weeks ago, and accusing Manila of breaching Chinese airspace.

Jing Quan also rejected the label of "troublemaker" when speaking to reporters at a South China Sea conference in Quezon City, Philippines. He dismissed the accusations of Manila against Chinese teachers, who had left the country due to security concerns, as "groundless" and accused Manila of creating false narratives to incite conflict.

Jing urged other nations to "feel fortunate enough that they have a neighbour like China in this region," and advised them to choose their diplomatic words carefully to avoid exacerbating the already complicated relationship between the two countries.

The Chinese embassy responded with criticism, stating that Manila's interpretation of Jing Quan's remarks was "selective" and "overinterpreted." The embassy added that the response demonstrated the need for improved communication between the two nations and called on Manila to adopt a more responsible role. Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the ambassador's statement "very much like a threat" and demanded clarification on its exact meaning.

Jing Quan described China-Philippines relations as "extremely sensitive and critical" and emphasized that the atmosphere was strained due to maritime disputes. However, he also pointed out that bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges had remained strong. To improve relations, Jing urged both nations to engage in targeted strategies for specific fields and issues, warning that a vicious cycle of mutual targeting and retaliation could result from a failure to manage ties effectively.

The history of tensions between Beijing and Manila is marked by frequent South China Sea clashes, which have evolved from maritime stand-offs to air confrontations. The Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Dao in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, has served as a major flashpoint. China has effectively controlled this coral atoll since 2012, despite Manila's claim that it lies within its economic zone.

In recent months, both sides have traded accusations over a medical evacuation near Second Thomas Shoal, another significant flashpoint where a Philippine naval vessel became grounded years ago.