MANILA — The Senate is currently evaluating a potential resolution addressing the Chinese Embassy’s challenge to declare Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan persona non grata, according to Senate Senior Majority Leader JV Ejercito.
The legislative push follows remarks from the envoy claiming that China would easily win a conflict in the West Philippine Sea, a statement Ejercito condemned as “very rude, very hostile, and very undeplomatic.”
“Hintayin na lang natin ang plenary… Pinag-uusapan na kung magpapasa kami ng resolusyon ukol sa kanyang pananalita. Pero malamang, magkakaroon ng aksyon at resolusyon ang Senado ukol dito,” Ejercito said in a radio interview.
Ejercito argued that Ambassador Jing should be replaced, asserting that his statements are threatening and counterproductive to repairing bilateral ties between Manila and Beijing.
“Maganda, dapat mapalitan na lang ito. Itong Chinese ambassador belongs to a group na talagang nag-i-instigate. Parang sinasadyang talaga nila ‘yan at hindi ‘yan nakatutulong sa ating pag-repair o pag-ayos sa relasyon [ng Pilipinas at China],” Ejercito stated.
“Dapat palitan ‘yan ng Tsina, kung seryoso silang ayusin ang relasyon sa ating bansa,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada urged his colleagues to exercise caution, advising against taking hasty actions despite sharing the general indignation over the envoy’s statements.
“While I share the concern and indignation his words have stirred, we must protest strongly and demand respect, without closing the doors of dialogue. Walang magandang idudulot ang padalus-dalos na pagkilos bilang tugon sa mga sinabi ng Chinese envoy,” Estrada said in a statement.
“Madaling sabihin ang pagdedeklara ng persona non grata, pero ang pananagutan sa magiging kahihinatnan nito ay hindi madaling pasanin,” he added.
Geopolitical friction persists as Beijing continues to claim nearly the entirety of the South China Sea—a vital trade route supporting over $3 trillion in annual commerce—overlapping with maritime zones claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
While the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims under its 2016 ruling, China maintains its refusal to recognize the decision.