By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday joined efforts in the Senate to have Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan expelled from the Philippines, citing his remarks suggesting Beijing could easily defeat the country militarily and China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Proposed Senate Resolution 746 urges President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to declare Jing persona non grata or formally request his recall by the Chinese government.
“Ambassador Jing’s claim of restraint is belied by the conduct of the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea,” the resolution read, citing increased Chinese naval and coast guard presence around four maritime features before the envoy’s remarks.
It added that “the past year has also witnessed a sharp escalation in the Chinese government’s harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.”
The measure follows a similar resolution filed Monday by Senator Erwin Tulfo, who asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to recommend declaring the envoy persona non grata.
Unlike Tulfo’s proposal, Hontiveros’ resolution directly appeals to the President and details incidents of alleged Chinese harassment, illegal fishing, and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels and aircraft.
The controversy stemmed from Jing’s Oct. 15 remarks during the Diliman Dialogues in Quezon City, where he responded to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s description of China as a regional “troublemaker.”
“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not use force,” Jing said, insisting that Beijing preferred peace.
The DFA described the remarks as a “thinly veiled threat of the use of force,” while Marcos said they sounded like a threat.
The DFA summoned Jing on Monday to formally convey the government’s serious concern and objection.
Aggression at sea
Hontiveros’ resolution cited several confrontations involving Chinese vessels, including the alleged assault on a Filipino sailor at Ayungin Shoal, water cannon attacks against Philippine fishing vessels at Bajo de Masinloc, and the ramming of fisheries vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat while delivering fuel to fisherfolk.
It also mentioned a Chinese fighter jet’s dangerous approach toward a Philippine patrol aircraft and the obstruction of a medical evacuation from the BRP Sierra Madre, which reportedly delayed the transfer of an ailing sailor by more than eight hours.
On Oct. 15, the same day Jing made his remarks, a Chinese fishing vessel allegedly anchored within the territorial sea of Lawak Island and deployed four smaller boats to fish without Philippine authorization.
The resolution linked the incidents to the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award, which found that China had violated Philippine sovereign rights by failing to prevent Chinese fishers from operating within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
“This is not the first time the Chinese government’s words have failed to align with its actions,” the resolution stated.
Diplomatic tensions
Hontiveros also cited the Chinese Embassy’s Oct. 17 statement challenging lawmakers advocating Jing’s expulsion.
“Just do it. Otherwise, STOP BLUFFING,” the embassy said, while accusing Filipino journalists and politicians of exaggerating the controversy and taking the ambassador’s statements out of context.
The statement prompted a protest from the Defense Press Corps.
The resolution recalled that the municipal council of Kalayaan, Palawan, had earlier declared Jing persona non grata, prompting Beijing to bar 16 town officials from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.
It also cited a July 10 China Daily video depicting a monkey wearing a barong taking instructions from the United States and Japan before being struck by a water cannon.
The DFA protested the video, but Beijing maintained that it did not represent the Chinese government’s official position and offered no apology, according to the resolution.
Decision rests with Marcos
Invoking the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the resolution noted that a receiving state may declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata at any time without explaining its decision.
However, Hontiveros acknowledged the President’s constitutional authority over foreign affairs and Malacañang’s earlier position that Marcos was not inclined to expel Jing.
The resolution stated that “the Senate nevertheless wishes to express its disapproval of the undiplomatic conduct of a foreign envoy, to inform the President’s exercise of the authority granted by the Constitution.” (PNA)
