China threatens to bar more PH officials if envoy gets expelled

MANILA, Philippines, October 19 ------ China has warned that it would bar more Philippine officials from entering its territory should Manila declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata, escalating a diplomatic row that has fueled tensions between the two countries amid their maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Chinese embassy in Manila said it would not welcome Philippine officials to China if the government acted on calls to expel Jing, whose remarks about China’s military superiority over the Philippines have triggered a diplomatic controversy. “Over the past 30 years, anti-China forces have been repeatedly doing the same thing to threaten our embassy. We are fed up with these old and low tricks,” it said.

The embassy made a fresh dare to Philippine officials: “If they really want to do something, do it quickly and immediately, please.”“While diplomacy is based on reciprocity, we will not welcome them to China,” it said. The warning comes as China prohibited Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in June 2026, and former senator Francis Tolentino, now labor secretary, in July 2025, from entering its territory over their statements and actions which Beijing said harmed its interests and bilateral relations with Manila.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at that time noted Beijing’s decision to impose the sanctions but warned that the move could further strain bilateral ties. “While the imposition of sanctions is China’s sovereign prerogative, the Philippines views it as an unfriendly act that further complicates bilateral relations,” it had said in a statement.

The embassy’s latest statement, however, was a departure from the earlier commitment of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on mending its ties with the Philippines. “China’s position on improving and growing its ties with the Philippines is clear. It is hoped that the Philippine side will have a full and accurate understanding of it,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in an Oct. 16 press conference.

Before lashing out on its social media, the Chinese embassy posted a clarification of Jing’s remarks on Oct. 15, with China urging the Philippines to pursue a balanced foreign policy and avoid being drawn into the rivalry between Beijing and Washington. The Chinese embassy in Manila said the Philippines should not allow competition among major powers to turn the country into an arena for geopolitical confrontation. “The Philippines need not choose sides between China and the United States. It can pursue a moderate and balanced foreign policy and benefit from good relations with both,” it said.

It also called on Manila to put its national interests first and avoid becoming a “victim” of competition between major powers. China considers the Philippines “a close neighbor and friend,” the embassy said, citing the two countries’ historical and cultural ties. It added that differences between Manila and Beijing should be managed through dialogue and warned against allowing outside forces to push bilateral relations toward confrontation. “China is ready to work with all sectors of Philippine society to promote dialogue, deepen trust, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation,” the embassy said.

Source: inquirer.net