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- The Chinese reaction came hours after Philippine senator filed resolution seeking expulsion of Chinese ambassador, declaring him persona non grata
By Aamir Latif
ISLAMABAD (AA) - Beijing said Tuesday that Filipino lawmakers who sought the expulsion of a Chinese envoy in Manila, are "not welcome" in China, according to media reports.
The Chinese reaction came hours after a Philippine senator filed a resolution seeking the expulsion of the Chinese ambassador and declaring him persona non grata, for remarks, which Manila said conveyed a threat of force,
A Senate resolution filed by Risa Hontiveros comes one day after a similar measure by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, the Phil Star reported.
The resolution formally urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata, or else ask Beijing to recall him.
While rejecting that interpretation, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Tuesday that lawmakers who asked Marcos Jr. to expel or declare Jing persona non grata are "not welcome" in China.
"Since you don't welcome us, we don't welcome you either. Fair enough," it said in a post on US social media platform Facebook.
The embassy shared the proposed resolution Hontiveros, urging the president to declare Jing persona non grata or "to request his recall" by Beijing.
It also shared a demand by some lawmakers for the president "to give serious consideration" to their appeal "for Jing's expulsion.
Manila's Foreign Ministry summoned Jing on Monday for his recent comment that China could “easily win” a conflict against the Philippines.
The dispute stems from remarks Jing made Thursday on the sidelines of an event in Manila while responding to Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who called China a “troublemaker” in the region.
Jing dismissed that characterization as “nonsense.”
“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force, and we love peace,” he said.
Marcos Jr. said Friday that Jing’s statement “sounds very much like a threat.”
China and the Philippines have repeatedly clashed on competing maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Amir Latif Arain
