China's Manila Envoy Draws Fire Over 'Easily Win' Remarks Amid South China Sea Tensions
HKFP · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
China's ambassador to the Philippines has sparked a diplomatic row after saying Beijing could "easily win" a military confrontation with Manila but had chosen peace instead. Ambassador Jing Quan made the remarks on Thursday in Manila, days after Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro labelled China a regional "troublemaker". The Philippines responded by calling the comments a "thinly veiled threat" of force.
Key Points
- Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan told reporters in Manila that "if we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force, and we love peace"
- The ambassador accused Manila of harassing Chinese workers and teachers, citing the departure of Chinese language teachers following security allegations by the Philippine government
- Philippine Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it was "regrettable" that Jing had made a "poor choice of words" that conveyed a "thinly veiled threat of the use of force"
- Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela described Jing's pronouncement as a "direct threat" to the country
- The tensions escalate ongoing disputes in the South China Sea, where Beijing claims most waters despite an international ruling that its assertion lacks legal basis
Why It Matters
The exchange highlights escalating maritime tensions between the two nations, with Beijing repeatedly driving away Philippine aircraft near Scarborough Shoal in recent months. For Hong Kong, which also operates in the broader South China Sea region, such inflammatory rhetoric between major powers raises concerns about stability in vital trade routes and the potential for miscalculation in disputed waters .
The exchange highlights escalating maritime tensions between the two nations, with Beijing repeatedly driving away Philippine aircraft near Scarborough Shoal in recent months. For Hong Kong, which also operates in the broader South China Sea region, such inflammatory rhetoric between major powers raises concerns about stability in vital trade routes and the potential for miscalculation in disputed waters .