The Philippines summoned China's ambassador on October 19, 2026, in a sharp diplomatic escalation over remarks by the envoy that Manila said conveyed a threat of the use of force, in the latest flare-up of the long-running South China Sea dispute between the two countries.
Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro summoned Ambassador Jing Quan to convey the country's "serious concern and strong objection" to his public statement of October 15, 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The move followed days of heated exchanges between the two sides after Jing told reporters that China "may easily win" in a confrontation with the Philippines, but would not use force because "we love peace."
The remarks that sparked the row
Jing made the comments on the sidelines of the Diliman Dialogues forum in Quezon City on October 15, after giving a speech at a school in Manila. He was responding to a question about Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. describing China as the region's troublemaker amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea.
"If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force, and we love peace," Jing said, according to multiple reports.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on October 16 that the remark "sounds very much to me like a threat" and was "not a very diplomatic statement to be made." Some Philippine lawmakers went further, with at least two sitting senators calling for Jing to be expelled or declared persona non grata; the palace said on October 19 that Marcos had not signaled any intent to expel him.
Manila's response: 'provocative and unacceptable'
Lazaro told Jing that his comments were "provocative and unacceptable" and aggravated an already sensitive atmosphere between the two countries, undermining shared efforts to build understanding and cooperation, the DFA said. She said sensitive issues should be addressed through established diplomatic channels and bilateral mechanisms that reserve space for dialogue and engagement.
The DFA also said that "it is not the place of a foreign mission to publicly criticize or taunt Philippine officials and legislators who are acting within their mandates," adding that as a democracy, the Philippines values freedom of expression and a plurality of voices, and "will not accept attempts by a foreign envoy to intimidate those who exercise them."
"The Department reserves the right to take further diplomatic action as it deems necessary," the DFA said in its statement.
Beijing pushes back
China's embassy in Manila said on October 17 that Jing had been selectively quoted and his remarks over-interpreted. Responding to the calls by senators to declare the ambassador persona non grata, the embassy posted on social media: "Is this threat or coercion? But anyway, just do it. Otherwise, STOP BLUFFING."
Asked about the summoning on October 19, China's foreign ministry said it firmly opposed what it called the "malicious hyping" of China-related issues by some individuals in the Philippines. "The Philippine side should take concrete steps to restrain such irresponsible words and actions by certain politicians," spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press conference. She added that improving bilateral relations would benefit both countries.
A dispute with deep roots
Diplomatic spats between China and the Philippines, a United States ally, have become more frequent in recent years, typically over standoffs and altercations between rival vessels in the South China Sea, much of which Beijing claims sovereignty over. Manila has accused China's coast guard of aggressive conduct in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, while Beijing insists it is enforcing the law against vessels encroaching on its territory. Beijing claims most of the strategic waterway despite an international ruling that its claim has no legal basis.
Watch: ANC's report on President Marcos calling the Chinese envoy's "easily win" remarks a threat and his plan to summon the ambassador (ABS-CBN News Channel, October 2026).
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Volatile Reaction (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0