Arya News - The move followed a Chinese Embassy Facebook post on Friday challenging lawmakers seeking to declare Jing persona non grata to “just do it".
MANILA – The Senate is weighing a possible resolution condemning Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s “very rude, very hostile and very undiplomatic” remarks about China’s ability to defeat the Philippines by force, with senators signaling possible formal action when Congress resumes session amid escalating tensions between Manila and Beijing.
The move followed a Chinese Embassy Facebook post on Friday challenging lawmakers seeking to declare Jing persona non grata to “just do it.”
“Otherwise, STOP BLUFFING,” the embassy had said.
On Sunday, however, the embassy struck a conciliatory tone, saying Beijing remained willing to improve relations with Manila and manage differences through dialogue.
Sen. JV Ejercito said senators had discussed issuing a resolution and could act on it when sessions resume.
“Maybe when we resume session [on Nov. 9], there can already be a resolution. Because the Chinese ambassador’s remarks were really not good anymore, they’re no longer diplomatic,” Ejercito told radio dzBB.
“Most likely, the Senate will take action and issue a resolution regarding this,” he added, describing Jing’s remarks as threatening and intimidating.
Jing sparked the controversy last Thursday when he said China could easily defeat the Philippines if it used force but preferred peace.
“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force and we love peace,” the envoy said, responding to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s description of China as a regional troublemaker.
‘Be diplomatic
President Marcos described the statement as sounding like a threat, while the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called it a “thinly veiled threat.”
Ejercito said Jing was worsening tensions instead of helping resolve the long-standing West Philippine Sea dispute.
“If he really wants our relationship to be good, we should be diplomatic. But with this kind of character of the ambassador, it doesn’t help. He is just adding fuel to the fire instead of pacifying the conflict as a diplomat,” he said.
“China should replace him if it is serious about improving relations with our country.”
The senator stressed that Manila did not want war but expected Beijing to respect Philippine sovereignty.
“We do not want a war. We do not want to fight with China. They are super powerful. We are just a third world country,” he said.
“We just want peace and I also hope that they have respect for us. They have to respect our sovereignty.”
Dialogue, warning
Citing Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, the embassy said on Sunday that China’s position on improving bilateral ties was clear and urged Manila to understand it accurately.
“It is hoped that the Philippines side will have a full and accurate understanding of it,” Mao said on Friday.
“Differences should be managed through dialogue; outside forces should not be allowed to steer bilateral relations toward confrontation,” the embassy said.
“China is ready to work with all sectors of Philippine society to promote dialogue, deepen trust, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation,” it added, describing the Philippines as a close neighbor and friend with deep historical and cultural ties.
But in another Facebook post on Sunday, the embassy warned that more Philippine officials would be barred from entering Chinese territory should Manila declare Jing persona non grata.
“Over the past 30 years, anti-China forces have been repeatedly doing the same thing to threaten our embassy. We are fed up with these old and low tricks,” it said.
“While diplomacy is based on reciprocity, we will not welcome them to China,” it added.
PH media’s response
The embassy’s criticism of Filipino politicians and journalists further widened the dispute. It accused them of having “very limited comprehension about facts” and of exaggerating statements, taking them out of context and creating hype, without identifying specific individuals or reports.
Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña accused Beijing of arrogance toward its neighbors.
“It uses force against fishermen inside Philippine waters, it answers diplomatic protests with veiled threats and it believes it is beyond the rule of international law,” Cendaña said.
Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano called for a review of the government’s policy against using water cannons during maritime confrontations, urging the Philippine Coast Guard, DFA and National Security Council to assess their lawful and proportionate use.
He also advocated funding air and sea drones to monitor Philippine waters and document hostile actions.
“We cannot defend what we cannot see,” Valeriano said.
The Defense Press Corps (DPC) likewise condemned the embassy’s remarks against Filipino journalists, saying reporters had accurately quoted Jing and were not responsible for the political fallout.
“While the ambassador’s remarks were reported verbatim in our news articles, the resulting political fallout is neither within the control nor the responsibility of journalists,” the group said on Sunday.
The DPC said its members had witnessed Chinese aggression during trips to the West Philippine Sea and had sought Beijing’s response to water cannon attacks, collisions and other maritime incidents.
Citing Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, the group said countries must refrain from threatening or using force and settle disputes peacefully.
“Peace and stability are nurtured through restraint, dialogue, and transparency,” it said, warning that mutual understanding was impossible if China continued to “shoot at the messengers.” — With reports from Dexter Cabalza and Kenneth Christiane Basilio