The Chinese Embassy in Manila has declared that its top diplomat will leave the Philippines “with pride and honor” should President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially designate him as persona non grata.
The statement, issued by Embassy Counselor and Spokesperson Ji Lingpeng comes amid intensifying calls from Philippine lawmakers to expel Chinese diplomatic staff following a series of heated exchanges over the West Philippine Sea.
Ji emphasized that while various political figures have called for the envoy’s removal, the legal authority to do so rests solely with the Chief Executive.
“There is but one person who has the authority to ask Ambassador Jing [Quan] to leave, and that is President Marcos,” Ji stated. “But he would do so with immense pride and honor, knowing that through his actions, he has fulfilled the firm commitment a Chinese diplomat makes to his country.”
The diplomatic rift reached a boiling point after 15 Philippine senators signed a resolution condemning the embassy for “disrespectful” social media posts and public comments directed at Filipino officials. Senate President Vicente Sotto III recently directed the Committee on Rules to evaluate a recommendation for the expulsion of Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei, who had reportedly dismissed Senate positions as mere “echoes” of misinformation.
In a defiant stance, Ji suggested that any move to expel one diplomat should extend to the embassy’s entire communications team. “As a team, we stay or leave, together,” he added.
While Malacañang has not yet signaled its intent to follow through with an expulsion, local sentiment continues to sour. The municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan—the administrative center for Philippine-held features in the Spratlys—has already passed a local resolution declaring Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata within its jurisdiction.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has maintained that diplomatic communication should remain professional, though it has not ruled out further diplomatic actions as tensions in the region persist.