Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata or ask Beijing to recall the envoy over his controversial remarks on China’s potential use of force.
In a social media post, Hontiveros announced that she filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 746 on Tuesday, October 20, calling for action against the Chinese diplomat.
The resolution cited Jing’s October 15 remarks that China could easily win a conflict if it chose to use force, although he stressed that Beijing preferred peace.
“Recognizing the primacy of the President in the conduct of the nation’s foreign affairs, the Senate nevertheless wishes to express its disapproval of the undiplomatic conduct of a foreign envoy,” Hontiveros said in the resolution.
The senator also pointed to alleged Chinese activities in Philippine waters, including the unauthorized fishing of a Chinese vessel near Lawak Island on the same day Jing made his remarks.
Hontiveros’ move comes despite Malacañang’s position that Marcos prefers resolving diplomatic disputes through dialogue rather than declaring foreign diplomats persona non grata.
Senator Erwin Tulfo earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 739, also seeking action against Jing over his statements.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy said Jing met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on October 19 to lodge strong diplomatic protests over what it described as remarks by Philippine officials and politicians that took China’s statements out of context and amounted to “smear and slander.”
