Philippines protests Chinese envoy’s remarks, calling them a ‘thinly veiled threat’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his government on Friday protested remarks by China’s ambassador to Manila, calling them “a thinly veiled threat of the use of force” in the latest flare up in the two Asian countries’ longstanding territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

On the sidelines of a Manila forum on Thursday, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan was asked by reporters to comment on Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s remarks pointing to China as a “troublemaker” in the region. Jing said that characterization was “nonsense” and added the Philippines should feel fortunate to have China as a neighbor.

“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force and we love peace,” Jing said. “In this region, we enjoy peace. Look at other regions: Ukraine, Gaza and even Venezuela.”

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