Chinese envoy's remarks seen as 'wolf warrior diplomacy'

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan’s controversial remarks are an example of “wolf warrior diplomacy,” according to defense analyst Renato Castro.

In a report by JP Soriano on "24 Oras" Weekend on Saturday, Jing claimed that China would "easily win" if it resorted to force in the West Philippine Sea. Several Filipino officials and government agencies have described the remarks as a threat.

“Dito sa wolf warrior diplomacy, talagang ginagamit mo ang lahat para takutin and, to a certain degree, bastusin mo yung host government, na nakikita natin ngayon, ‘no? So, in a way, talagang ginagawa niya yung trabaho niya,” Castro said.

(In wolf warrior diplomacy, you use everything to intimidate and, to a certain degree, disrespect the host government, as we are seeing now. So, in a way, he is doing his job.)

Sen. Risa Hontiveros called on Jing to apologize, warning that he should be declared persona non grata if he refused.

Jing’s remarks prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to summon the Chinese envoy.

“Hindi naman sasabihin niya na isang diplomat, kung wala po talagang ibig sabihin po ‘yan. Kung baga, talagang veiled threat na ho sa atin ‘yan. Let's expect the worst. Kasi talagang gigil na gigil na sa atin ang mga Tsino ho, dahil ho talaga, hindi tayo nagpapatinag sa kanila,” Castro said.

(A diplomat would not say something like that if it did not mean anything. In other words, it is really a veiled threat against us. Let’s expect the worst because the Chinese are extremely frustrated with us for refusing to back down.)

Tensions between the Philippines and China have continued to rise amid their territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

China continues to claim most of the disputed waters despite a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated the legal basis of its expansive maritime claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The ruling, issued under the arbitration proceedings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, was in favor of the Philippines.—Jean Mangaluz/MCG, GMA News

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