Philippines rebukes Chinese envoy over force remark

The Philippines rebuked China’s ambassador after comments that Manila’s foreign ministry said appeared to convey a “thinly veiled threat” of force. Ambassador Jing Quan told journalists that China could easily prevail if it chose force, before adding that Beijing would not do so because it wanted peace.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said diplomacy requires tact and restraint and warned that such language could further erode trust. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the remarks sounded like a threat and deserved a direct discussion with the ambassador. The comments followed the Philippine defence secretary’s description of China as a regional troublemaker.

China’s embassy said Jing had been selectively quoted and that Manila had over-interpreted his statement. It maintained that the ambassador’s full answer stressed peaceful handling of disputes. The disagreement therefore concerns both the wording and the meaning attributed to it.

The exchange matters because the countries already confront one another around disputed South China Sea features, while the Philippines is a US treaty ally. The immediate development is diplomatic, not evidence that either side has decided to use force. Whether Manila formally summons the envoy and whether both governments lower the rhetoric will show if the dispute can be contained.