MANILA, Philippines—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said he would meet with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan after saying that China can “easily win” by using force.
Marcos told reporters that the ambassador’s statement “sounds like a threat.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday evening called out Chinese Ambassador to Manila Jing Quan for issuing a "thinly veiled threat of the use of force" in addressing the maritime dispute between the Phippines and China.
The DFA issued the statement past 10 p.m. minutes after the Chinese Embassy in Manila posted Jing's views on the current state of China-Philippines relations at the Second Diliman Dialogue.
The embassy said that during an interview with the media at the venue, Jing reiterated that if the two sides were to become embroiled in conflict and confrontation, China "may easily win, but we will not use of force, as we love peace."
The embassy slammed Philippine Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela's alleged penchant for distorting facts, "shenanigans, irrelevant or far-fetched arguments, spreading lies and rumors, and taking things out of context" with regard to maritime issues between China and the Philippines.
"It is truly unfortunate that there are people like Tarriela, who spend their days scheming to undermine China-Philippines relations, incite confrontation and hatred, and promote precisely the outcome that should be avoided most: a war between China and the Philippines," the embassy posted on X.
In reaction to the embassy's statement, the DFA said, "The business of diplomacy requires tact and restraint in order to create space necessary for discourse, dialogue and engagement, regardless of the disparity in positions or perspectives."
"It is regrettable that Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan today had a poor choice of words that would seem to convey a thinly veiled threat of the use of force, which is hardly helpful in the context of the complicated bilateral ties between the Philippines and China," the DFA said.
"It is hoped that all diplomats accredited to the Philippines take greater care in the language used in public statements so as not to further erode mutual trust and confidence, nor derail the advancement of dialogue and constructive engagement," it added.
The embassy said that Jing "stressed that where differences exist, the two sides should sit down and talk, manage their differences, and avoid creating incidents or escalating tensions."
