MALACAÑANG said Tuesday that nothing short of a sincere apology should come from Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, following his contentious remark on the Philippine-China territorial dispute.
Jing offended the Philippine government by stating that China could "easily win" if it chose to use military force against the Philippines, a remark viewed as a subtle threat and a violation of diplomatic norms.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said the Chinese envoy must apologize for his statement.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that while a demand for accountability is valid, apologies carry real weight only when delivered voluntarily rather than through compulsion.
"Saying ‘sorry, I’m sorry’ — it’s not something that’s forced; it must come from the heart," Castro said in Filipino.
She added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to address the matter.
“Let us just wait and see what the discussion will be like between the representative of China and our own representative, Secretary Tess Lazaro,” Castro said.
"For now, I will leave such details to Sec. Tess Lazaro to avoid any further complications — things tend to spiral when additional remarks are made. We are fostering a diplomatic relationship, so let us allow Sec. Tess Lazaro to address your questions for the time being,” she added.
Following Jing’s statement last week, several lawmakers called on Marcos to declare Jing persona non grata.
