PCG’s Tarriela: Chinese envoy’s threat may not reflect Beijing policy

MANILA (UPDATE) — Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela on Tuesday said Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s remark about China’s ability to defeat the Philippines in a conflict does not seem to jive with his government’s strategy.

In an interview on ANC’s “Headstart”, Tarriela noted that China’s foreign ministry had expressed a desire to improve bilateral ties.

“She even said that China would like to improve and grow the ties with the Philippines,” Tarriela said, referring to ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

The Coast Guard official acknowledged that scripted remarks and social media posts by China’s representatives “[have] to pass through the Chinese government.”

However, Tarriela said the ambassador’s remarks appeared abrupt compared to typical Chinese messaging.

“I think when you look at the Chinese strategy, it is always carefully calibrated and there are small signs. It’s not this abrupt,” he said.

Tarriela nevertheless criticized Jing’s statement, which has also drawn condemnation from Philippine officials.

He said that even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken Jing’s comment as “a threat to the Filipino people.”

Jing told reporters on October 15 that “[i]f we want to use force, we may easily win.” He added that China would not resort to force and said it values peace.

Tarriela said the ambassador should have apologized instead of defending his remarks and challenging Philippine lawmakers and members of the media who criticized them.

“For me, it’s very disappointing that the Chinese ambassador never had any regret for what he said,” he said.

“He could have easily apologized and said it was wrong use of words or phrases. But instead, he doubled down his threat,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday summoned Jing to convey the Philippines’ “serious concern and strong objection” to his October 15 statement, which it said conveyed a threat of the use of force.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro described the remarks as provocative and unacceptable.

The controversy has also prompted calls from some lawmakers to declare Jing persona non grata, potentially leading to his expulsion from the country.

China has pushed back against the calls, with its embassy challenging Philippine officials to proceed with the move and warning that Beijing would not welcome Philippine officials to China in response.

Tarriela argued that China’s response to the persona non grata calls should be distinguished from its position on Jing’s original remarks, saying Beijing’s statements focused on the potential expulsion of its envoy.

He also urged the Philippines to distinguish the ambassador’s rhetoric from China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea, where Manila has repeatedly accused Beijing of violating Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights.

“Again, I’m not defending the Chinese ambassador. I might sound like, because I’m trying to separate what is happening in the West Philippine Sea and the rhetoric of the Chinese ambassador,” Tarriela said.

He maintained that the Philippines should continue asserting its maritime rights and emphasizing the legal significance of the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea dispute.

“So where do we go from here? We just have to keep on standing, asserting our rights, and highlighting that the 2016 Arbital Award is final and binding,” Tarriela said.

But according to a statement from nine members of Congress, the Chinese Embassy “taunting” the government to declare the ambassador persona non grata is “undiplomatic language” that does little to encourage serious dialogue between the nations.

“We call on the President to stand firm against further Chinese aggression and to give serious consideration to our appeal for the expulsion of Ambassador Jing Quan. The Ambassador has clearly overstayed his welcome. We should no longer host a foreign envoy whose statements and conduct have shown disregard for our country’s sovereignty,” the statement released on Tuesday read.

The statement was jointly issued by Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, Dinagat Islands Lone District Representative Kaka Bag-ao, Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña, ML party-list Representative Leila de Lima, Akbayan party-list Representative Chel Diokno, Akbayan party-list Representative Dadah Kiram Ismula, Albay 1st District Representative Cielo Krisel Lagman, Pinoy Workers party-list Representative Karl Legazpi, and Las Piñas Lone District Representative Mark Anthony Santos.

“The Embassy’s undiplomatic language taunting our government to declare the Chinese Ambassador as persona non grata does little to encourage serious dialogue between two sovereign nations. Instead it reflects their position that our country should simply accept China’s threats and submit to its demands,” the lawmakers said. —With a report from Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News