China Embassy Dares Congress: Just Do It, Stop Bluffing On Persona Non Grata

The Chinese embassy dared lawmakers to go ahead with their threat to declare Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata even as more senators joined the chorus of denunciation of the diplomat.

“Is this threat or coercion? But anyway, just do it. Otherwise, STOP BLUFFING,” the Chinese embassy said on Facebook.

In a separate post, the Chinese embassy lashed out at “a few politicians” who “seem to think about nothing but anti-China rhetoric.”

“They turn a blind eye to proposals for more dialogue, better management of differences and stronger ties. For their own political gain, they hide behind the banner of national security, twist words out of context and hype up the so-called ‘China threat.’ Such behavior is truly deplorable,” the post read.

It also castigated Philippine media, claiming some reporters – like some politicians – have “very limited comprehension about facts,” but are “good at exaggeration, taking things out of context and creating hype.”

On President Marcos’ pronouncement to summon Jing because of his threatening remark on Thursday, the embassy said the ambassador is willing to speak face-to-face with the President.

“We welcome such good opportunity of face-to-face communication. Ambassador Jing looks forward to exchanging views on certain important and sensitive issues with the President. Especially how to prevent some individuals from pushing bilateral relations into a dangerous situation,” the embassy said.

For Sens. JV Ejercito and Francis Pangilinan, Jing deserves to be banned in the country.

“He’s so arrogant. If I see him, maybe I’ll shove him in the face,” Ejercito said over radio dwIZ.

But he stressed he respects President Marcos’ plan to summon Jing for a face-to-face meeting. “We need to exhaust all diplomatic means. It’s just right for Marcos to call him. But with the attitude, I think we need to declare him persona non grate. Beijing should have him replaced,” Ejercito said. “If they really want to repair our relations, having him as ambassador won’t help,” he added.

No sinopobic

Ejercito clarified that he was not being sinophobic and that he respects the Filipino-Chinese community despite his criticisms of Beijing.

What he is against, Ejercito emphasized, is the “expansionist policy” of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“That’s why it’s not a far-fetched idea that what he’s (Jing) saying is a message or an order from the higher up because Xi Jinping, his policy is very hostile and very aggressive,” Ejercito said.

Pangilinan, meanwhile,  criticized the ambassador for being “arrogant” and “condescending” and demanded that he go back to China.

“By way of diplomatic language, you can please easily leave Manila and go back to China,” Pangilinan said. 

“We do not need foreign guests in the form of arrogant, condescending diplomats,” he said on Facebook.

At a briefing on Friday, Oct. 16, Malacañang said President Marcos wants the country’s officials to maintain cordial relations with China as well as to always pursue dialogue while protecting Philippine sovereignty and national interests in the West Philippine Sea. 

Palace press officer Claire Castro made the response when asked whether the ongoing heated exchange between Philippine and Chinese officials may require downgrading the relations between the two nations.

“Our trade relationship with China is different. And it is also a different matter when it comes to protecting our territory and interests in the West Philippine Sea,” Castro said. 

“So, as ordered by the President – we should communicate with the Chinese leaders in a diplomatic manner, because the President doesn’t want the relations between the two countries get ruined,” she said.

‘Very much a threat’

On Jing’s remark, Marcos on Friday said “it sounds very much to me like a threat, and it is not a very diplomatic statement to be made.”

Jing was quoted as saying last Thursday that China could easily defeat the Philippines if it decides to use force in settling dispute. 

“You should feel fortunate enough that you have a neighbor like China in this region. If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force, and we love peace,” Jing said. 

His statement immediately drew flak from several quarters, with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) calling it a “thinly veiled threat.”  

In Beijing, ministry of national defense spokesman Chen Xi took another swipe at Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., calling him a politician who “cares only about his selfish interests.”

“He is trying to gain political influence by taking an extreme anti-China position, expand his own military power by creating ‘external threats’ and trade for foreign support through stirring up troubles in the South China Sea,” he said.

“All these moves have directly jeopardized the Philippines’ national security and people’s well-being, greatly undermined regional peace and stability and shared interests of ASEAN, and had destructive impact on the China-Philippines bilateral ties and defense relations,” he added.

“Facts speak louder than words, and justice will prevail. The Chinese side remains committed to firmly safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and building the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation together with regional countries,” Chen said. – With additional reports from Marc Jayson Cayabyab and Helen Flores