THE Chinese Embassy in Manila on Sunday dared lawmakers to act on their threat to declare China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan persona non grata, saying it has grown tired of such repeated warnings.
“Some anti-China politicians talked about declaring the Chinese ambassador 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,” the embassy said in a statement on Facebook.
“If they really want to do something, do it quickly and immediately please,” it added.
The embassy said that it would not welcome lawmakers calling for the ouster of the ambassador to China.
“While diplomacy is based on reciprocity, we will not welcome them to China. Simple and fair enough,” it added.
More senators on Sunday called on the ambassador to leave the Philippines, saying China could easily defeat the country in a military conflict.
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Sen. Francis Pangilinan were among the lawmakers who criticized Jing after the Chinese Embassy challenged Philippine officials to declare the envoy persona non grata.
In a video posted on his Facebook page, Ejercito addressed Jing in Mandarin, telling the ambassador the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines and urging him to go home.
In separate radio interviews, Ejercito described the envoy’s remarks as hostile, arrogant and undiplomatic, and could further inflame tensions between Manila and Beijing.
He said the Philippines should pursue diplomacy to improve bilateral relations, but Jing’s statements were undermining those efforts.
“He is adding fuel to the fire,” Ejercito said, adding that Manila did not want a war with China but expected Beijing to respect Philippine sovereignty.
“We do not want war. We do not want to fight China. They are super powerful, while we are only a Third World country,” he said.
Ejercito noted that the two countries have longstanding economic and cultural ties, including through the Filipino-Chinese community and bilateral trade.
Interviewed on DWIZ, the senator said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was right to summon Jing but added the government must exhaust diplomatic means in addressing the dispute.
“Given his attitude, I think he should be declared persona non grata, and Beijing should replace him. If they want to improve our relationship, this ambassador will not help,” he said.
Ejercito said the Senate could consider a resolution condemning Jing’s remarks when sessions resume.
He backed the continued modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the strengthening of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), saying the country needed a minimum credible defense capability to protect its territory.
Ejercito said his criticism was directed at China’s policies, not its people.
“I am not pro-America or pro-war. I am pro-Filipino,” he said.
Pangilinan criticized what he described as the envoy’s arrogant and condescending attitude.
“By way of diplomatic language, you can please easily leave Manila and go back to China,” Pangilinan said in a post on his Facebook page.
On Friday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros described Jing’s remarks as a form of “gray-zone” aggression intended to intimidate the Philippines without triggering outright conflict.
Hontiveros said summoning the ambassador was not enough, calling on the government to demand a formal retraction and an apology from Beijing.
If China refused, she said, the Philippines should declare Jing persona non grata and raise the issue before Asean and the United Nations General Assembly.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian called on Jing to apologize, describing his remarks as undiplomatic and uncalled for.
“It is not correct that a foreigner inside our country is threatening us. That’s undiplomatic and uncalled for,” Gatchalian said.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said the Philippines will not back down in the face of threats.
“Nobody in this world can bully the Philippines — whether through words or by force. Our sovereignty is not negotiable, our dignity is not for sale, and our resolve must never be mistaken for weakness,” Tulfo said.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada urged caution on calls to declare Jing persona non grata, saying the Philippines should defend its sovereignty while keeping diplomatic channels open.
“While I share the concern and indignation his words have stirred, we must protest strongly and demand respect, without closing the doors of dialogue,” Estrada said.
“There is nothing to be gained from acting hastily in response to the Chinese envoy’s remarks,” he said.
