By Joyce Rocamora
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said a remark made by the Chinese ambassador in Manila sounded “very much like a threat” that deserves a discussion between them.
Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan earlier drew rebuke from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) after saying China could “easily win” if it uses force but won’t.
“Well, it sounds very much to me like a threat and it is not a very diplomatic statement and so we perhaps would like to understand what exactly it is that he means,” Marcos said in a media interview during the Philippine Coast Guard’s 125th founding anniversary celebration at Eva Macapagal Super Terminal in Manila.
Asked if he would summon the envoy, he said there should be “a discussion between the ambassador and myself.”
In a separate statement in response to the DFA, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said the current relations between Manila and Beijing are “at an extremely sensitive stage,” and told the agency to “prevent” certain individuals from undermining normal exchanges and cooperation.
It said the DFA should take a “more responsible role” in addressing such actions so as to not push the Philippine-China relations “into a dangerous and uncertain situation.” (PNA)
