PH slams China envoy’s ‘easily win’ war remark as veiled threat

National

FRESH friction between Manila and Beijing emerged Thursday, Oct. 15, after China’s ambassador said his country could “easily win” a war with the Philippines, a remark the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said risked further undermining bilateral ties.

Ambassador Jing Quan maintained that Beijing would not use force to settle maritime disputes but warned that the Philippines faced greater risks of confrontation if it did not restore direct military-to-military communications suspended by Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. about three years ago.

“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not use force. You know, we love peace,” Jing told reporters on the sidelines of the second Diliman Dialogues, as quoted by Inquirer.net. The event was organized by the Philippines-China Studies Center of Diliman College in Quezon City.

The remarks came amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Manila has accused China of increasingly aggressive actions against Filipino government and fishing vessels.

The DFA described Jing’s statement as a thinly veiled threat and urged diplomats to exercise restraint in public statements to avoid further damaging bilateral relations. It stressed that diplomacy required tact and restraint to preserve opportunities for dialogue despite differences.

Jing’s comments followed Teodoro’s rejection of Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent description of the Philippines as a “troublemaker of Southeast Asia.” Teodoro had countered that China was the troublemaker, prompting Jing to accuse the defense chief of targeting Chinese students, teachers and workers and spreading false narratives that could fuel hostility between the two countries.

The ambassador also defended the need for direct military communications, saying the channels could help manage crises, prevent misunderstandings and reduce the risk of conflict. He cited China’s continued military communications with the United States despite differences between the two powers.

Teodoro, however, said the suspension stemmed from security concerns, including China’s alleged misuse of the channels and distortion of events. The Armed Forces of the Philippines backed the decision, citing the need for mutual trust, sincerity and respect for international law. Teodoro said communication with Beijing remained open through the DFA and the Philippine Coast Guard.

The issue follows a 2023 confrontation at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, when the Philippine government said it could not reach Chinese officials through an established maritime communication mechanism for several hours. In July 2024, the two countries agreed to establish a direct line between their presidential offices to help prevent maritime incidents from escalating.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela called Jing’s remarks a direct threat, arguing that claiming the ability to overpower a host while choosing not to was not a demonstration of friendship.

Jing urged Manila to find ways to manage the maritime dispute and continue expanding trade, investment and visits despite disagreements.(MyTVCebu)