Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not want diplomatic relations with China to suffer in summoning Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan over remarks suggesting Beijing could easily prevail if it used military force in the West Philippine Sea issue.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration remains committed to maintaining diplomatic engagement with Beijing while defending territorial rights and interests in the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
“Hindi nakikita, hindi nais makita ng ating pamahalaan, ng Pangulo na darating iyong punto na hindi magiging maganda iyong relasyon ng China at Pilipinas,” Castro said.
[Translation: The government and the president do not want relations between China and the Philippines to reach a point where they deteriorate.]
Castro said economic cooperation with China should be distinguished from disputes involving Philippine territory and maritime interests.
“Iba po kasi ang relasyon natin sa China pagdating sa trade and investment pero iba rin po ang usapin patungkol sa pag-protekta natin sa ating teritoryo at sa ating interes sa West Philippine Sea,” she said.
[Translation: Our relationship with China in terms of trade and investment is different from the issue of protecting our territory and interests in the West Philippine Sea.]
The Palace said Marcos has instructed officials to pursue diplomatic dialogue with Chinese authorities rather than allow tensions to damage bilateral relations.
“Kaya ang utos ng pangulo, ang pakikipag-usap sa pamunuan ng China ay in a diplomatic manner dahil hindi nais ng Pangulo na masira ang relasyon ng dalawang bansa,” Castro said.
[Translation: That is why the president has instructed officials to engage China’s leadership diplomatically because he does not want relations between the two countries to be damaged.]
She added that diplomatic engagement would not diminish the administration’s commitment to protecting interests in the West Philippine Sea.
Marcos earlier described the Chinese ambassador’s remarks on the possible use of force as a threat and indicated that he wanted to discuss the matter personally with the envoy.
“Well, it sounds very much to me like a threat, and it is not a very diplomatic statement to be made,” Marcos told reporters following the Philippine Coast Guard’s 125th founding anniversary in Manila.
“I think that deserves a discussion between the Ambassador and myself,” he added.
Jing rejected Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro Jr.‘s characterization of China as the region’s “troublemaker.”
“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force, and we love peace,” the ambassador said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs criticized the remarks as a poor choice of words that appeared to convey a thinly veiled threat of military force.
The Chinese embassy subsequently accused the DFA of selective quotation and overinterpretation, warning that relations between Manila and Beijing were at an “extremely sensitive stage.”
