Key facts
- Philippine foreign ministry called Chinese envoy's remarks a "thinly veiled threat."
- President Marcos Jr. described the envoy's words as sounding "very much like a threat."
- China's ambassador stated his country "may easily win" a confrontation but "would not use force."
- The Chinese Embassy called Manila's response an "over-interpretation."
The Philippines has rebuked China's ambassador for remarks interpreted as a "thinly veiled threat" of force, after Beijing's envoy said his country "may easily win" a confrontation. The Philippine foreign ministry stated ambassador Jing Quan's comments to journalists were a "poor choice of words" and unhelpful given their complicated bilateral ties. Jing had said China "may easily win" but "would not use force as we love peace," in response to the Philippine defence secretary calling China a regional "troublemaker." President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the ambassador's remarks "sounds very much like a threat." The Chinese Embassy stated the ambassador had been selectively quoted and called Manila's response an "over-interpretation," adding relations were "at an extremely sensitive stage."