Malacañang said China is aware that the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. prefers diplomacy as the primary approach in addressing issues between the two countries.
During a press briefing on Monday, February 2, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Beijing already knows the Philippine government’s position.
“Alam naman po kasi ng bansang China na ang ating Pangulo at ang administrasyon na ito ay tanging diplomasya ang nais para maayos kung ano man po ang isyu,” Castro said.
She added that this stance has likely been felt by China, making heightened tensions unnecessary.
“So, naramdaman po ‘yan ng China malamang—kaya po hindi naman po kinakailangan na magkaroon ng init or initan sa pagitan po ng dalawang bansa.”
Castro also addressed reports of heated exchanges and a “word war” between Chinese officials and some Philippine lawmakers, including calls to declare Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan as persona non grata.
“May kaniya-kaniya po kasing opinyon. Ang Kongreso po ay may sarili silang mga activities na hindi naman po saklaw ng Pangulo. Puwede po nilang ituloy ‘yon, kung ‘yon po ang nakikita nila,” she said.
However, she reiterated that the President’s policy, along with that of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), remains anchored on dialogue.
“Pero sa Pangulo po, alam po natin na ang polisiya po ng Pangulo at ng [Department of Foreign Affairs] DFA ay maganda pong pag-uusap—diplomasya—para sa mga ganitong usapin [kaugnay] sa bansang China,” Castro added.
In the same briefing, Castro clarified that the meeting between First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Ambassador Jing Quan was unrelated to diplomatic policy.
“Unang-una po, kung dumalo man ang ating unang ginang sa mga public […] events, hindi po ito nagre-reflect ng policy direction—at hindi po ito nali-link sa anumang diplomatic matters,” she said.