MANILA, Philippines — Malacanang said the government needs to balance the country's interests and the welfare of Filipinos in China in addressing calls to expel Chinese Ambassador to Manila Jing Quan for his "veiled threat" against the Philippines.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro in a press briefing on Wednesday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is resolved to defend the country's territory.
"The President will uphold the country's interests in the West Philippine Sea. That's very clear. The President will not abandon that [resolve]," Castro said in Filipino.
"We also have fellowmen in China that we need to protect. [But] Our President would not abandon our [maritime] rights," the Palace press officer said.
"Our President does not back down and does not abandon our [maritime] rights. How this will be implemented to better protect our country will be discussed," she added.
Castro also said the government cannot blame Filipinos, including elected officials, who "went extremes" in asking the President to declare Jing persona non grata.
"We cannot blame them because we can see that our visitors — our visitors seem to not properly respect the very people who live in this country," Castro said without elaborating.
