The summons

On Monday, 19 October, Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro called in Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to register the Philippine government's serious concern and strong objection to his recent remarks. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila treats the statement as a threat to use force and calls it provocative and unacceptable. The department says the Philippines will not accept efforts to intimidate officials who speak freely, including those who criticise Beijing's conduct in the South China Sea. The ministry has kept open further diplomatic steps, and some lawmakers in Manila have pushed for his censure or removal from the country.

Lazaro also stressed the damage done to an already sensitive bilateral atmosphere.

“Such language aggravates an already sensitive bilateral atmosphere and undermines the shared efforts of both countries to build mutual understanding and cooperation.”

She added that sensitive matters should be handled through established diplomatic channels and bilateral mechanisms that leave room for dialogue.

The remarks behind the row

The row began with comments from Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who on Thursday, 15 October, described China as a troublemaker in the region. Jing answered reporters' questions about those comments on the sidelines of a Manila forum and called the label nonsense. He added that the Philippines should feel fortunate to have China as a neighbour. Asked about force, he said:

“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force and we love peace.”

Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea as its own territory, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan hold competing claims. The waterway is a key global trade route. Confrontations at sea and heated exchanges of words have escalated between the two capitals in recent years under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Beijing's response

The Chinese embassy in Manila said on Friday, 16 October, that the Philippine ministry's first statement had taken the ambassador's words out of context and relied on "selective quotation and overinterpretation". A second embassy statement on Sunday, 18 October, called the Philippines a close neighbour and friend and said Manila did not need to choose between China and the United States. It urged both sides to keep talking, manage their differences and widen cooperation in trade, investment, people-to-people contacts and law enforcement. The statement described the relationship as being at an extremely delicate and critical moment, and it criticised what it called anti-China politicians for distorting the envoy's words.

President Marcos gave his own reaction when asked about the remarks.

“Well, it sounds very much to me like a threat and it is not a very diplomatic statement to be made.”

Marcos said Jing would be asked to explain what he meant.

Wider tensions

Diplomatic disputes between Beijing and Manila have become more frequent in recent years, largely because of confrontations in the South China Sea. Manila accuses China's coast guard of aggressive conduct inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone, while Beijing says it enforces the law against vessels that encroach on its territory. AP reports that the Marcos administration has broadened military and defense engagement with the United States, its treaty ally, and other security partners. Manila has kept open the option of further diplomatic action, and Marcos has said Jing would be asked to explain.