Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over ‘threat’

The Philippine government summoned the Chinese ambassador on Monday to express its outrage over remarks the ambassador made, which they deemed as a threat to use force. Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro conveyed the government's serious concern and strong objection to China's Ambassador Jing Quan's statement made on Thursday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila reported the incident. Tensions between China and the Philippines over South China Sea territories have escalated in recent years under the leadership of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. According to China, the South China Sea is its sovereign territory. The Philippines, along with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, all lay claim to parts of the waters.

The Philippine government reserves the right to take further diplomatic actions if deemed necessary. Some Philippine legislators have even called for the expulsion of the ambassador. China defended its ambassador and labeled the Philippine response as an overreaction. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that certain individuals were "maliciously hyping up China-related issues and undermining bilateral relations."

Spokesperson Mao Ning added that the Philippines should curb the irresponsible words and actions of individual politicians. The incident occurred during a forum on a Manila, where Jing was questioned by reporters about remarks made by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. concerning China as a "troublemaker" in the region.

Jing dismissed the characterization as "nonsense" and urged the Philippines to feel fortunate to have China as a neighbor. Jing emphasized that if they were to use force, they would easily win, but they would not choose force and they love peace. Lazaro told Jing that his statement was provocative and unacceptable, and it did not contribute to understanding.

The Philippine government reiterated its commitment to freedom of expression and a plurality of voices, and it will not tolerate attempts by foreign envoys to intimidate those who exercise them. The Marcos administration has increased military and defense engagements with its treaty ally, the United States, and other security partners, including through scaling up joint combat exercises in the South China Sea. China has opposed these exercises but has staged its own military drills in the disputed waters.