President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not favor declaring persona non grata any foreign diplomat, including Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan, preferring to address the issue through diplomatic channels, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said.
During a press briefing on Monday, Castro said that Marcos respects the views of senators and other leaders calling for the envoy’s expulsion but does not favor such a move against foreign representatives.
“Alam natin ang pananaw ng pangulo, hindi po niya nanaisin na magkaroon ng ganitong klaseng pagdedeklara kahit kanino pa man na representative ng ibang bansa dito sa ating bansa,” Castro said.
“Kung ano man ang opinyon ng ibang mga leader, mga senador ay iginagalang po natin ang kanilang nasa saloobin o kaya kanilang opinyon at kanilang nararamdaman,” she added.
The calls to declare Jing persona non grata followed his remarks suggesting that China could easily win a military conflict with the Philippines if it chose to use force.
Marcos earlier described the ambassador’s remarks as “threat-like” and “not very diplomatic” and said he would summon Jing over the statements.
Castro said the president remains cautious in his public statements because of their potential impact on the country and its people.
“Ang pangulo ay hindi umaakto ng hindi sa diplomatikong pamamaraan. Alam naman natin ang pangulo ay pangulo, ang lahat ng sasabihin niya ay maaaring makaapekto sa ating bansa at sa ating mga kababayan, kaya hindi nagiging agresibo ang Pangulo sa kanyang pananaw patungkol sa anumang relasyon at pakikipag-ugnayan sa ibang bansa,” she said.
Meanwhile, Castro said the government would continue to pursue negotiations with China and other countries through established diplomatic channels.
She stressed, however, that the administration would not back down from defending the Philippines’ territorial rights and national interests in the West Philippine Sea.
“Ang pakikipagnegosasyon ang pakikipag-usap sa ibang bansa, sa liderato ng ibang bansa kasama na po ang bansang China rito ay dapat na diplomatiko, many diplomasya,” Castro said.
“Hindi uurong ang ating gobyerno sa pagprotekta at paglaban sa ating karapatan sa ating teritoryo at sa interes natin sa West Philippine Sea nang walang aggression,” she stressed.
She also said Marcos had called for investigations into businesses and foundations allegedly receiving funding from foreign sources, adding that any claims supported by evidence should be investigated.
